Palestinian legislators to vote on unity government this weekend

March 14, 2007

Ramallah, West Bank - The Palestinian Legislative Council will vote Saturday on a new national unity government bringing together Hamas and Fatah, according to Fatah sources.

The Palestinian Legislative Council will vote Saturday on a new national unity government bringing together Hamas and Fatah, according to Fatah sources.

"There is an agreement between both sides on forming a national unity government," according to Mustafa Barghouti, an independent council member who has been involved in talks between the Fatah and Hamas factions.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya will meet later in the day to finalize the details, including who will be named to the sensitive interior minister post.

Asked whether the deal might fall apart as other announced breakthroughs have, Barghouti said this time it is "really definite" and an "important step" to forming the first national unity government and bringing Palestinian factions together in a meaningful way.