A Palestinian unity government will not be agreed before the end of next week, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said Monday. The government had originally been expected to be unveiled at the end of last week.
"We did not conclude the consultations to form the government and we will not announce it before the end of next week," Haniyeh told a cabinet meeting in Gaza, referring to his talks on Sunday with President Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah faction.
Haniyeh and Abbas met again on Monday and failed to agree on who would take the helm of the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the security forces, officials said, according to Reuters.
Abbas suggested several candidates and Haniyeh promised to study the names, one official said. Hamas has proposed naming a retired Fatah general, who is also close to the Islamic movement group, to fill the position.
"The atmosphere was positive, assuring and things are moving in the right direction," said Abbas adviser Nabil Abu Rdainah.
