CAIRO, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A Palestinian faction leader mediating between rival Hamas and Fatah says a new national unity government will be formed in the next ten days.
Egypt's Middle East News Agency quoted Mohammad al-Hindi of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as saying the new Cabinet will be announced in Cairo the week following a scheduled meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas' political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal in Damascus.
The two men are due to meet in the Syrian capital on Saturday to discuss a new government that would end the international sanctions on the Palestinians and re-launch peace negotiations with Israel.
Tensions have surged between Islamic Hamas and nationalist Fatah since the former swept the January 2006 elections and formed a Hamas-dominated government that has virtually isolated and bankrupted the Palestinian territories since the West decided to stop all aid until Hamas renounces violence and recognizes Israel and agreements previously signed.
Hindi said the mediation efforts of Egypt, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian factions have reduced the political differences over forming a national unity coalition government.
He added an agreement has been reached for Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to retain his post and form a national -- not a technocrat -- government that includes the Palestinian parties that have seats in the Legislative Council.
Hindi acknowledged sticking points remain on who would assume the Palestinian interior ministry and Abbas' insistence on including the peace process within the government's political agenda.
Fatah and Hamas negotiations over forming a new government have occasionally been stalled amid differences over who would assume major ministries, especially the interior, foreign affairs and finance.
The differences have in recent months been taken to the streets by supporters from both parties, as sporadic armed clashes have killed dozens.
