Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said on Wednesday that his new government will quit as soon as a national reconciliation deal is reached among the Palestinian factions.
"This government that includes PLO factions, mainly Fatah movement, is a transitional one and its work will end as soon as Cairo dialogue is achieved and a reconciliation deal is reached," Fayyad said in statement.
Fayyad's government, which was sworn in on Tuesday before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, excluded Hamas movement which rules the Gaza Strip, amid boycott of Fatah and other Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) left-wing factions.
However, eight ministers in Fayyad's larger cabinet are well-known Fatah members. Members from PLO factions, mainly Feda Party, the Popular Struggle Front and the Democratic Front (DFLP) had also joined.
One day after his government was sworn in, Fayyad held the first cabinet meeting in Ramallah. The meeting was attended by all the ministers who were sworn in, except two Fatah members who apologized at the last moment.
Fayyad said in the statement at the end of the meeting that "there was an essential need for having a government that takes care of ruling the country, serves the citizens' interests and confronts the challenges that our people are facing."
"This government is the government of President Mahmoud Abbas and its platform is totally committed to the political program of the PLO based on the Palestinian peace initiative of 1988," said Fayyad.
Hamas movement refuses to form a new unity government abides by the PLO commitments, mainly the recognition of Israel, and the signed agreement and the denouncement of violence.
"Reconstructing Gaza and working on succeeding the national reconciliation dialogue are the priorities of the new government. My government will work also on restoring law and discipline," said Fayyad.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2009)
