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Palestinian President to Formally Ask Hamas to Form Government Tuesday
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=110E0AF:3919ACA Hamas leaders
officially presented Ismail Haniyeh as their choice for prime minister
during talks with Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza City, Monday





Ismail Haniyeh (File photo)

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to ask Hamas
prime minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh to form a new government
Tuesday.

Hamas wants to build a coalition government, but Mr. Abbas's Fatah
party and the militant Islamic Jihad group have declined to join.

The new Palestinian government is facing a financial crisis because of
Western threats to cut aid and Israel's freeze on the transfer of
customs revenues it collects for the Palestinian Authority.

Iran is urging Muslim nations to make up the funding shortfall.  Hamas
leader Khaled Mashaal said Tuesday Iran will play a greater role in
Palestinian affairs.

Israel has said it will not have contact with a Hamas-led government,
but Israel's interim Prime MInister Ehud Ohlmert said Tuesday there is
still hope for reaching peace.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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