Abbas to head new unity Palestinian government

A senior Palestinian official said,that rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas agreed at a meeting in Qatar today on purpose to shape a unified Palestinian government for the West Bank and Gaza headed by Palestinian President and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas.

• Abbas and Khaled Meshaal,head of the Islamist Hamas,said they were serious about implementing the accord almost a year after the two sides signed a reconciliation deal that languished for months and was reaffirmed only in November.
• "It’s serious,both Fatah and Hamas,in healing the wounds and ending the chapter of division and reinforcing and accomplishing reconciliation,"Meshaal said.
• The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority encourages the peace negotiation peace with Israel that leads to an independent Palestine in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Gaza, co-existing with the Jewish state. Hamas is officially sworn to the destruction of Israel but is open to an indefinite ceasefire.