’Israel’ Raids Gaza ahead of New Palestinian Unity Gov’t

Local Editor

"Israeli" warplanes raided targets in the Gaza Strip Monday, hours before a new government is to take office in Ramallah.

The "two sites [were] in the central and southern Gaza Strip", the "Israeli" spokesman said. "Direct hits were confirmed."

He did not give further details

Earlier, "Israel" has denied three future Palestinian Authority ministers from the Gaza Strip entry to the West Bank ahead of the unveiling of a new unity government, public radio said on Sunday.

The head of "Israel's" military administration in the Palestinian territories, Major General Yoav Mordechai, had informed the Palestinians that the three would not be permitted to cross from Gaza to the West Bank, the radio said.

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that the line-up of a unity government would be announced Monday, following a delay over who would head the foreign ministry.
He also said "Israel" had informed the Palestinians that it would "boycott the government."
""Israel" wants to punish us because we have agreed with Hamas on this government," he said.
And he also warned in remarks late on Saturday that the Palestinians would respond to every punitive step taken by "Israel" in respect to the new government.
The three ministers elect had applied to cross from Gaza to the West Bank on Thursday, but their application was immediately rejected, a senior Palestinian official responsible for coordinating exits and entries stated.

"We sent the application in on Thursday and explained that these officials are to be sworn in as ministers in Ramallah, but "Israel" immediately rejected the application," he added on condition of anonymity.

COGAT, the "Israeli" War ministry unit responsible for Palestinian coordination, refused to comment on the matter, as did the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But Netanyahu on Sunday warned against any international rush to recognize a Palestinian government.

"I call on all responsible elements in the international community not to rush to recognize a Palestinian government which has Hamas as part of it and which is dependent on Hamas," Netanyahu, who has claimed such an administration would be a front for the Islamist group, told his cabinet.

Under the deal, Hamas and the PA agreed to work to form an "independent government" of technocrats, paving the way for long-delayed elections.

Speaking late on Saturday, Abbas said "Israel" was looking to punish the Palestinians for overcoming their years-long internal political differences.
But the Palestinians would have an answer for every "Israeli" move, he warned.
"Each "Israeli" step will have a proper Palestinian response," he warned, without elaborating.

"We will take everything step-by-step, we will not be the ones to react first."
The new government, which will pave the way for long-overdue legislative and presidential elections, will be chaired by Rami Hamdallah, who is currently serving as prime minister in the Fatah-dominated West Bank administration.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team