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| Israel praises Hamas-free cabinet | Israel praises Hamas-free cabinet |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says prospects for peace could be boosted by the creation of a new Palestinian government without the Hamas party. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says prospects for peace could be boosted by the creation of a new Palestinian government without the Hamas party. |
| Israel would regard such a cabinet as a partner, he said, adding that Hamas' exclusion "creates opportunities". | Israel would regard such a cabinet as a partner, he said, adding that Hamas' exclusion "creates opportunities". |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is to swear in a cabinet led by his Fatah party after a violent split with the Islamist Hamas movement. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is to swear in a cabinet led by his Fatah party after a violent split with the Islamist Hamas movement. |
| The US says it will lift an aid embargo once the new cabinet takes over. | The US says it will lift an aid embargo once the new cabinet takes over. |
| The US consul-general in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles, said there were no obstacles to re-engaging with the new government, which would have full US support. | The US consul-general in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles, said there were no obstacles to re-engaging with the new government, which would have full US support. |
| On Saturday night, Mr Abbas reportedly signed a decree enabling him to by-pass parliamentary approval and appoint a new cabinet on Sunday, with Finance Minister Salam Fayyad set to become the new prime minister. | On Saturday night, Mr Abbas reportedly signed a decree enabling him to by-pass parliamentary approval and appoint a new cabinet on Sunday, with Finance Minister Salam Fayyad set to become the new prime minister. |
| Residents of Ramallah worried over futureIn pictures | Residents of Ramallah worried over futureIn pictures |
| Mr Abbas sacked the Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, on Thursday after factional fighting left more than 100 people dead in Gaza. | |
| Shortly afterwards, the Hamas movement said it had taken over full control of Gaza, as its gunmen ransacked Fatah offices and arrested or executed its fighters. | Shortly afterwards, the Hamas movement said it had taken over full control of Gaza, as its gunmen ransacked Fatah offices and arrested or executed its fighters. |
| The two parties briefly shared power in a fragile coalition formed after Hamas won a landslide victory in elections last January. | The two parties briefly shared power in a fragile coalition formed after Hamas won a landslide victory in elections last January. |
| But the foreign aid that is a lifeline for Palestinian people and institutions was curtailed over Hamas's refusal to renounce violence and recognise Israel. | |
| Hamas criticism | Hamas criticism |
| Mr Olmert said on Saturday that the planned formation of a new government could boost chances for peace and could be "advantageous" for the Palestinians. | Mr Olmert said on Saturday that the planned formation of a new government could boost chances for peace and could be "advantageous" for the Palestinians. |
| SALAM FAYYAD Born in 1952 near West Bank city of TulkarmHolds a PhD in economics from the University of TexasWorked at the World Bank in Washington from 1987-1995IMF representative to Palestine until 2001Finance minister under the Fatah-controlled administration from 2002-2005Credited with cracking down on official corruption Profile: Salam Fayyad Gazans tell of fears | SALAM FAYYAD Born in 1952 near West Bank city of TulkarmHolds a PhD in economics from the University of TexasWorked at the World Bank in Washington from 1987-1995IMF representative to Palestine until 2001Finance minister under the Fatah-controlled administration from 2002-2005Credited with cracking down on official corruption Profile: Salam Fayyad Gazans tell of fears |
| Recent changes had made the situation "clearer", he said. | Recent changes had made the situation "clearer", he said. |
| The new cabinet, he said, "presents an opportunity that has not existed for a long time". | The new cabinet, he said, "presents an opportunity that has not existed for a long time". |
| "A Palestinian government which is not a Hamas government is a partner and we will co-operate with it." | "A Palestinian government which is not a Hamas government is a partner and we will co-operate with it." |
| Mr Olmert was speaking before boarding a flight to the US for talks. | Mr Olmert was speaking before boarding a flight to the US for talks. |
| Mr Abbas is expected to swear in the emergency government on Sunday at 1300 local time (1000 GMT). | |
| Hamas has denounced the move to form an emergency administration as illegal. | Hamas has denounced the move to form an emergency administration as illegal. |
| Fleeing Gaza | Fleeing Gaza |
| On Saturday, violence between the rival factions spread from Gaza to the West Bank, where Fatah remains dominant. | On Saturday, violence between the rival factions spread from Gaza to the West Bank, where Fatah remains dominant. |
| Second deputy speaker Hassan Khuraishah, an independent, told the BBC he had been beaten up as he tried to prevent Fatah gunmen from raising their flag. | Second deputy speaker Hassan Khuraishah, an independent, told the BBC he had been beaten up as he tried to prevent Fatah gunmen from raising their flag. |
| Q&A: Gaza chaos How Hamas took over In pictures: W Bank fighting | Q&A: Gaza chaos How Hamas took over In pictures: W Bank fighting |
| In a show of strength, Fatah supporters paraded around Ramallah, firing weapons into the air and chanting "Hamas out". | In a show of strength, Fatah supporters paraded around Ramallah, firing weapons into the air and chanting "Hamas out". |
| Almost all Hamas politicians and prominent supporters in Ramallah have either fled or gone into hiding. | Almost all Hamas politicians and prominent supporters in Ramallah have either fled or gone into hiding. |
| Fatah supporters also took over the Hamas-controlled legislative council in Nablus. | Fatah supporters also took over the Hamas-controlled legislative council in Nablus. |
| Meanwhile, hundreds of Fatah supporters are reported to have been fleeing Hamas-controlled Gaza by land and sea. | Meanwhile, hundreds of Fatah supporters are reported to have been fleeing Hamas-controlled Gaza by land and sea. |
| Gaza, and the much larger West Bank, are just 45km (30 miles) apart, but correspondents say they now look poised to function as two separate territories. | Gaza, and the much larger West Bank, are just 45km (30 miles) apart, but correspondents say they now look poised to function as two separate territories. |