Abbas says future unity government to recognise Israel

Ramallah, April 26 (IANS) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Saturday that the unity government, which will be formed within five weeks, will adopt his strategy of recognising Israel and condemning violence.

Abbas made the announcement at the meeting of the Central Council of Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) being held in Ramallah April 26-27 to discuss the future of the political process and the reconciliation with Hamas, Xinhua reported.

A senior PLO delegation Wednesday signed an agreement in Gaza with Islamic Hamas movement leaders on implementing internal reconciliation agreements reached between Hamas and Fatah in 2011 and 2012.

According to the agreement, the two sides agreed to form a technocrat unity government within five weeks and set a date for holding general elections right after the six-month transitional government is sworn in.

Abbas told the meeting that he would start his contacts and consultations on forming the new government that ends more than seven years of internal division within the coming few days.

"The reconciliation agreement signed with Hamas is based on two major points, forming a technocrat independent government and setting a date for holding elections," Abbas said.

He stressed the necessity of holding the presidential and legislative elections as well as the elections for the PLO National Council (PNC).