Officials Say New Palestinian Government to be Unveiled Soon

Palestinian prime minister-designate Mohammad Shtayyeh will announce the make-up of his government in the coming days, Agency France-Presse reported on Monday, citing Palestinian officials. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas charged Shtayyeh with the task of forming a government on March 10, giving him until April 14 to do so. Shtayyeh replaced Rami Al-Hamdallah. Deputy PA President Mahmoud Alou told AFP that Shtayyeh and Abbas would meet to decide on candidates for as-yet unfilled posts, adding that agreements had already been reached over the controlling factions. The new government is expected to exclude supporters of Hamas, the Islamist group ruling the Gaza Strip and a longtime rival to Abbas and Shtayyeh Fatah party. Hamas has already criticized the formation of the government.