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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Israel shuns Palestinian cabinet | Israel shuns Palestinian cabinet |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israel has reiterated that it will not deal with the new Palestinian government of national unity, which has been approved by Palestinian lawmakers. | Israel has reiterated that it will not deal with the new Palestinian government of national unity, which has been approved by Palestinian lawmakers. |
| A spokeswoman for Israeli PM Ehud Olmert accused the cabinet, made up of rival Fatah and Hamas factions, of endorsing the use of "terror". | A spokeswoman for Israeli PM Ehud Olmert accused the cabinet, made up of rival Fatah and Hamas factions, of endorsing the use of "terror". |
| Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas said earlier statehood was the priority of the new coalition. | Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas said earlier statehood was the priority of the new coalition. |
| Palestinians hope the formation of the cabinet will end a Western boycott. | Palestinians hope the formation of the cabinet will end a Western boycott. |
| The EU and UN have indicated there could be a softening of their stance. | The EU and UN have indicated there could be a softening of their stance. |
| Hours after the Palestinian parliament overwhelmingly backed the new cabinet on Saturday, Norway said it would normalise ties with the new government. | |
| Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement: "The unity government's programme takes important steps toward meeting the demands set by the international community. | |
| "On this basis, Norway will therefore resume political and economic relations with the Palestinian government." | |
| 'No change' | 'No change' |
| Israeli spokeswoman Miri Eisen told the BBC the new government had not complied with Western demands that it recognise Israel and renounce violence. | Israeli spokeswoman Miri Eisen told the BBC the new government had not complied with Western demands that it recognise Israel and renounce violence. |
| Mahmoud Abbas called for an end to "the siege" | Mahmoud Abbas called for an end to "the siege" |
| "We have a brand new government, it won't recognise Israel, it won't renounce terror, it won't accept any of the former treaties, and that means that basically they're accepting the guidelines of the exact same Hamas government that we've had in the Palestinian Authority for the last year," she said. | "We have a brand new government, it won't recognise Israel, it won't renounce terror, it won't accept any of the former treaties, and that means that basically they're accepting the guidelines of the exact same Hamas government that we've had in the Palestinian Authority for the last year," she said. |
| Ms Eisen was speaking after the Palestinian parliament met simultaneously in Gaza City and in the West Bank city of Ramallah, with a video link that strained to cope with the applause and cheering that greeted the result. | |
| Mr Haniya set out the programme of his cabinet. | |
| "The government affirms that resistance in all its forms, including popular resistance to occupation, is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people," he told lawmakers. | "The government affirms that resistance in all its forms, including popular resistance to occupation, is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people," he told lawmakers. |
| "Our people have the right to defend themselves from continuous Israeli aggression," Mr Haniya said. | "Our people have the right to defend themselves from continuous Israeli aggression," Mr Haniya said. |
| But he also said that his cabinet would work on maintaining a truce if Israel would stop its "occupation aggression". | But he also said that his cabinet would work on maintaining a truce if Israel would stop its "occupation aggression". |
| The BBC's Matthew Price says that while Mr Haniya's speech will not go far enough for Israel, it is important that a senior member of Hamas has again called for the establishment of a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel since 1967. | The BBC's Matthew Price says that while Mr Haniya's speech will not go far enough for Israel, it is important that a senior member of Hamas has again called for the establishment of a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel since 1967. |
| Our correspondent says that some see this as an implicit recognition of Israel's existence. | Our correspondent says that some see this as an implicit recognition of Israel's existence. |
| Earlier, lawmakers were addressed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also the leader of Fatah. | Earlier, lawmakers were addressed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also the leader of Fatah. |
| He said there should be an end to "the siege" - referring to the crippling Western embargo. | He said there should be an end to "the siege" - referring to the crippling Western embargo. |
| Mr Abbas also said the Palestinian people "reject violence in all its forms", and called for "mutual commitment by Israel to stop all violence". | Mr Abbas also said the Palestinian people "reject violence in all its forms", and called for "mutual commitment by Israel to stop all violence". |
| Possible contact | Possible contact |
| The Palestinian economy has been badly hit by the embargo. | The Palestinian economy has been badly hit by the embargo. |
| Clashes between Fatah and Hamas gunmen have left scores dead | Clashes between Fatah and Hamas gunmen have left scores dead |
| It was imposed after the election victory in January last year of Hamas, which rejects international calls for it to recognise Israel and renounce violence. | It was imposed after the election victory in January last year of Hamas, which rejects international calls for it to recognise Israel and renounce violence. |
| The new government contains a cross-section of Palestinian parties, including some ministers who recognise Israel, our correspondent says. | The new government contains a cross-section of Palestinian parties, including some ministers who recognise Israel, our correspondent says. |
| As a result, he says, UN and EU sources have indicated there will be a softening in their stance towards the government. | As a result, he says, UN and EU sources have indicated there will be a softening in their stance towards the government. |
| The US has also indicated it may leave the door open to some contact with the new finance minister. | The US has also indicated it may leave the door open to some contact with the new finance minister. |
| Salam Fayyad is a Western-backed economist who is thought to be respected by the Bush administration. | Salam Fayyad is a Western-backed economist who is thought to be respected by the Bush administration. |
| Israel, however, said it would shun the new administration. | Israel, however, said it would shun the new administration. |
| Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said on Friday that Israel should try to deal with only Mr Abbas as a means to "drive Hamas out of power". | Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said on Friday that Israel should try to deal with only Mr Abbas as a means to "drive Hamas out of power". |
| Increasing lawlessness | Increasing lawlessness |
| Although there have been signs of a softening in the international stance towards the new government, particularly by France and Russia, there are no guarantees the international boycott will end. | Although there have been signs of a softening in the international stance towards the new government, particularly by France and Russia, there are no guarantees the international boycott will end. |
| Britain has said it will only have diplomatic contact with non-Hamas members of the government. | Britain has said it will only have diplomatic contact with non-Hamas members of the government. |
| The new administration was forged after several months of fighting between the Hamas and Fatah factions left more than 140 people dead. | The new administration was forged after several months of fighting between the Hamas and Fatah factions left more than 140 people dead. |
| Saturday's vote comes amid increasing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip. | Saturday's vote comes amid increasing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip. |
| There has been a series of abductions over recent months of Western aid workers and journalists. Intensive efforts are continuing to find missing BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston, who is feared kidnapped. | There has been a series of abductions over recent months of Western aid workers and journalists. Intensive efforts are continuing to find missing BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston, who is feared kidnapped. |