GAZA CITY, 3 March 2007 — Caretaker Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh yesterday called on factions to speed up the formation of a unity government after they missed yesterday’s deadline to allocate Cabinet berths.
He said he had completed consultations with different Palestinian factions over the allocation of ministries, but some differences remained to be sorted out. He urged an early decision to thwart “those who are trying to damage Palestinian unity.” Haniyeh was speaking after Friday prayers at Al-Shafee Mosque in Gaza City.
Haniyeh had asked President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction and other groups to submit their choices by yesterday, ahead of a planned meeting with Abbas in the Gaza Strip.
He said the Israeli reaction to the Feb. 8 Makkah agreement between Palestinian factions was a clear indication that the Palestinian people were heading in the right direction: protecting their own unity and rejecting outside intervention.
Thousands of Palestinians rallied here yesterday in support of Islamic Jihad, setting fire to Israeli and US flags as the group vowed to make more attacks on the Jewish state.
“Talk about a cease-fire is premature because our priority must remain resistance,” Islamic Jihad leader Nafiz Azzam told the faithful.
The rally marked the first anniversary of the death of Khaled Al-Dahduh, a former leader of Jihad’s armed wing, when a car blew up in Gaza City. Islamic Jihad blamed Israel for the attack, although Israel denied involvement.
Azzam said his movement would support the incoming unity government, although it would not participate.
Late on Thursday, Israel closed its borders with the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The closure will last until Tuesday when the Jewish Purim holiday ends, Israel Radio said.
All Palestinians, except those in urgent medical need, will be barred entry into Israel during the period.
— Additional input from agencies
