Local Editor

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a unity government on Monday after overcoming a last-minute dispute with the Hamas group.

Ministers in the new administration, whom Abbas has said would be politically unaffiliated, took the oath of office in a televised ceremony in Ramallah, the Palestinian seat of government in the "Israeli"-occupied West Bank.
Three ministers from the Gaza Strip were denied entry to the West Bank by "Israeli" forces.

Standing on a red carpet lined with Palestinian flags, the new ministers filed past, each laying their hand on either a Koran or a Bible to take the oath of office as Abbas stood by.
It is the first Palestinian unity government to take office in seven years, and the first fruits of a landmark reconciliation deal signed in April.
"Today, with the formation of a national consensus government, we announce the end of a Palestinian division that has greatly damaged our national case," said Abbas.

"This black page in history has been turned forever," he pledged in remarks echoed by the outgoing Hamas government in Gaza.

For his part, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri hailed the national consensus government, which represents all the Palestinian people, describing it as "a turning point".
The formation of the Palestinian unity government faced a last-minute hitch that jeopardized a long-awaited reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas.
Hamas had announced earlier on Monday that it will not support the government because of a decision by Abbas to scrap the Ministry for Prisoner Affairs and replace it with a committee that will fall outside the control of the cabinet.

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya confirmed Monday that the movement would not join a unity government which does not include a ministry and minister for detainees.
"We have made concessions in all stages and we agreed that the premier of the unity government be affiliated to Fatah, and we agreed that some of the ministers be affiliated to Fatah and the left wing Palestinian factions. However, some sides misunderstood our lenience and flexibility."
Dissolving the Ministry of Prisoners is a "stab in the back of hunger striking Palestinian prisoners," he added.

The prisoners' minister deals with Palestinians held in "Israeli" jails.
"No, and a thousand times no. How could we possibly abandon those who have spent most of their life [in prison] for the sake of God?" Hamas Interior Minister Fathy Hammad told a gathering in Gaza that had been expected to celebrate the new government.
Senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad said that the unity government would be announced and sworn-in at 1 .p.m. as scheduled.
Hamas said it would not recognize such a body, meaning the unity deal would be in tatters from the word go.

A Palestinian official said Abbas wanted to close the ministry to secure continued Western funds for the government, with some international donors warning they would not support an administration that finances Palestinians jailed in "Israeli" prisons.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team