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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Vote due on Palestinian cabinet | Vote due on Palestinian cabinet |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A new Palestinian unity government formed of members of the rival Fatah and Hamas factions is being presented before parliament in Gaza. | |
| The vote of confidence in the new cabinet of prospective Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas is expected to be a formality. | |
| Palestinians hope there will then be an end to a crippling Western boycott. | Palestinians hope there will then be an end to a crippling Western boycott. |
| The EU and UN have indicated there could be a softening, but Israel says the government is a step backwards. | The EU and UN have indicated there could be a softening, but Israel says the government is a step backwards. |
| Finance minister | Finance minister |
| The parliament opened its session shortly after 1100 local time (0900 GMT) to hear a speech from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also the leader of Fatah. | |
| Mr Haniya was then presenting his planned cabinet and reading a policy speech before the vote of confidence. | |
| Israel has indicated it will deal with only Mahmoud Abbas | Israel has indicated it will deal with only Mahmoud Abbas |
| If ratified, the ministers will then be sworn in at Mr Abbas's office. | If ratified, the ministers will then be sworn in at Mr Abbas's office. |
| The Palestinian economy has been badly hit by the international embargo. | The Palestinian economy has been badly hit by the international embargo. |
| It was imposed after the election victory in January last year of Hamas, which rejects international calls for it to recognise Israel and renounce violence. | It was imposed after the election victory in January last year of Hamas, which rejects international calls for it to recognise Israel and renounce violence. |
| The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says the new government contains a cross section of Palestinian parties, including some ministers who recognise Israel. | The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says the new government contains a cross section of Palestinian parties, including some ministers who recognise Israel. |
| As a result, he says, UN and EU sources have indicated there will be a softening in their stance towards the government. | As a result, he says, UN and EU sources have indicated there will be a softening in their stance towards the government. |
| The US has also indicated it may leave the door open to some contact with the proposed finance minister. | The US has also indicated it may leave the door open to some contact with the proposed finance minister. |
| Salam Fayyad is a Western-backed economist who is thought to be respected by the Bush administration. | Salam Fayyad is a Western-backed economist who is thought to be respected by the Bush administration. |
| One US official said Washington would not deal with him officially but might consider unofficial contacts. | One US official said Washington would not deal with him officially but might consider unofficial contacts. |
| Israel, however, said it would shun the new administration. | Israel, however, said it would shun the new administration. |
| Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said on Friday that Israel should try to deal with only Mr Abbas as a means to "drive Hamas out of power". | Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said on Friday that Israel should try to deal with only Mr Abbas as a means to "drive Hamas out of power". |
| Increasing lawlessness | Increasing lawlessness |
| Although there have been signs of a softening in the international stance towards the new government, particularly by France and Russia, there are no guarantees the international boycott will end. | Although there have been signs of a softening in the international stance towards the new government, particularly by France and Russia, there are no guarantees the international boycott will end. |
| Clashes between Fatah and Hamas gunmen have left scores dead | Clashes between Fatah and Hamas gunmen have left scores dead |
| Britain has said it will only have diplomatic contact with non-Hamas members of the government. | Britain has said it will only have diplomatic contact with non-Hamas members of the government. |
| The US says the administration must accept Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and conform to past peace deals but has otherwise reserved judgment. | The US says the administration must accept Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and conform to past peace deals but has otherwise reserved judgment. |
| The new administration was forged after several months of fighting between the Hamas and Fatah factions left more than 140 people dead. | The new administration was forged after several months of fighting between the Hamas and Fatah factions left more than 140 people dead. |
| Saturday's vote comes amid increasing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip. | Saturday's vote comes amid increasing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip. |
| There has been a series of abductions over recent months of Western aid workers and journalists. Intensive efforts are continuing to find missing BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston, who is feared kidnapped. | There has been a series of abductions over recent months of Western aid workers and journalists. Intensive efforts are continuing to find missing BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston, who is feared kidnapped. |
| On Friday, Palestinian gunmen fired on a vehicle transporting UN aid official John Ging in the northern Gaza Strip. |