GAZA CITY, 28 October 2006 — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is determined to press rapidly ahead with forming a new government and is expected to announce a decision within days, EU officials said yesterday.

“He is determined to move the process of the government...to have a solution,” EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters on the first leg of a Middle East tour following talks with Abbas and Israeli leaders.

Efforts to form a unity government in order to end an unprecedented Palestinian crisis have deadlocked over the ruling Hamas party’s refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence and agree to abide by past peace deals. An EU diplomat would not give details as to what form the government might take but said: “It would be a government that would allow other (donors) to put in money.

“It would also empower him (Abbas) to have the possibility to meet with (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert,” the diplomat said. “I think he has taken the decision. It will be soon,” the source added.

Israel refuses to have any dealings with the Hamas-led Cabinet which is run by what the Jewish state considers a terrorist organization. In the absence of an agreement with Hamas, Abbas has said he would be willing to appoint a government of independent technocrats.

Aides have evoked more radical proposals, such as appointing an emergency government, dissolving the Hamas-dominated Parliament and calling snap elections, or organizing a referendum on the moderate political platform.

Solana is due to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on Monday as part of his six-day Middle East tour. “I think it will then be public what he (Abbas) wants to do,” the EU diplomat said, adding that Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal would meet Mubarak in Cairo today.

Meanwhile, the interior minister in the Hamas-led government warned the mainstream security services, loyal to the rival Fatah party, not to create trouble as apparently threatened for today.

“Information and reports, some credible, indicate that elements of the security services intend to create trouble,” Said Siam told a televised news conference in Gaza City.

“We are going to deal with all those who disturb order. Attacks on private property, institutions or ministries will not be tolerated,” he warned.

Maher Maqdad, a spokesman for the Fatah party that was dealt a savage blow by Hamas in elections, hit back accusing the Islamist movement of planning its own “bloody Saturday” under the cover of sedition within the security ranks.

“Preparations made by Hamas to explode the situation in mobilizing its military structure and executive force are creating auspicious conditions for a new massacre on the pretext that Fatah and the security services are planning something for Saturday,” said Maqdad.

Eight Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 1 in shootings between Hamas’ paramilitary “executive force” controlled by the Interior Ministry and members of the mainstream security apparatus in the Gaza Strip.

Frequent clashes have flared between Fatah and Hamas supporters in the volatile Palestinian territory since Hamas took office in March.

In another development, Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians in raids against fighters in the occupied West Bank yesterday, local residents said.

Two men were shot dead in Al-Fara refugee camp, near the city of Jenin. Residents said the men were civilians and one had been throwing rocks at troops.

In the village of Yamoun, west of Jenin, soldiers killed a man who had climbed on to the roof of his home to watch the Israeli troops, residents said.

An Israeli Army spokesman said troops in Al-Fara shot two Palestinians, one of whom was carrying a gun while the other had an ax. They were in a group of people moving toward the troops in a threatening manner, said the spokesman.

He said the gunman was killed and the other man was wounded in the leg and taken to an Israeli hospital for treatment.

— With input from agencies