Haniya named the first foreign minister for the Palestinian
territory.
Hamas said the move was unrelated to the unrest rocking the
Arab region, but it is likely to be seen as an effort by the movement to convey
a more open image to the outside world.
Haniya appointed Mohammed Awad to the post of foreign
minister. Awad will also keep his job as planning minister.
Thursday’s reshuffle added five ministers, including one
woman. Most ministers kept their current portfolios.
The new government is an expanded form of the last one, made
up entirely of Hamas members, six of them newly appointed, in addition to a new
Cabinet secretary-general.
In a statement Thursday, Haniya said: “the reshuffle is an
administrative step and is not against reconciliation.” He added that the new
government would resign when a national unity agreement was signed ending
division with Fatah movement.
