Haniyeh: Government in 3 weeks

A Hamas leader predicted that a Palestinian national unity government would be in place within three weeks. Hamas and Fatah ended internecine violence last week with a power-sharing agreement that would give Hamas a majority in the Cabinet, while Fatah would retain the presidency and the key Foreign and Finance Ministries. “We hope the government will be produced in less than three weeks and presented to the esteemed Parliament,” Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian Authority prime minister from Hamas, said at Friday prayer services at a Gaza City mosque. Still to be resolved are questions of control over security forces. National unity talks had devolved into violence in early December over Hamas’ refusal to recognize Israel or renounce terrorism. Under the new agreement, Hamas agreed to “respect” past deals with Israel.