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                   Abbas Names New Palestinian Prime Minister

   The United States has welcomed the selection of a new Palestinian prime
   minister, saying the choice of academic Rami Hamdallah comes at a
   "moment of challenge" and a "moment of opportunity."
   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked Hamdallah to form a new
   Palestinian Cabinet in West Bank, replacing Salam Fayyad, who announced
   his resignation in April and formally leaves this month.
   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Hamdallah in a
   statement Sunday, saying the United States can work with the new
   government on a path to a negotiated two-state settlement with Israel.
   The Islamic militant group Hamas, which controls the rival Gaza Strip,
   has rejected the appointment. A spokesman calls it "illegal" and says
   it will not help bring Palestinian unity.
   Hamas and Mr. Abbas` Fatah party agreed in principle last month to form
   a unity government, an effort the two sides have pursued for more than
   three years without fruition.
   Hamas is considered a terrorist group by Israel and the West, which
   backs the more moderate Fatah-led government in the West Bank.
   The two factions split control after Hamas won a parliamentary majority
   in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election and ousted Fatah forces
   from Gaza a year later.
   Hamdallah has been serving as president of Al-Najah University in
   Nablus, where he is an English professor. Fayyad, a U.S.-educated
   economist, frequently clashed with Mr. Abbas.
   Hamdallah is a Fatah Party member, chairman of the Palestinian stock
   exchange and has led the Palestinian Election Commission since 2002.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/abbas-names-new-palestinian-prime-minister/1673841.html