New Palestinian government formed in West Bank

A new Palestinian Authority government presided over by Salam Fayyad on Tuesday was sworn in at the  Ramallah headquarters, signalling the failure in reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah. Fayyad was appointed once again as prime minister by acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas after the elected government of Hamas was dismissed in 2007.

Fayyad stepped down two months ago to pave the way for a national unity government.

On Tuesday, however, a day after the two rival Palestinian factions adjourned their talks on a national unity government in Egypt, Fayyad was sworn in. About half of the new ministers are from Fatah.

On its part, Hamas said that the formation of a new "illegitimate" government constituted an additional political, legal and constitutional chaos. Hamas' spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum said in a press release that the government declaration posed as an intentional sabotage of the inter-Palestinian talks.

According to him, Abbas, the government will remain illegal and unconstitutional and Hamas will not recognize or deal with it. The Hamas official said that uniting the Palestinian line and strengthening the internal front is the goal of Hamas.