¡¡Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas attends a cabinet meeting at his office in Gaza Feb. 5, 2007. (Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    GAZA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas would begin forming a new government of national unity in the coming few days, a Hamas spokesman said on Saturday.

    When Hamas and Fatah delegations return to Gaza after they signed the Mecca accord, ceremonies would be held to sack the current government and Haneya would begin forming a new coalition, Fawzi Barhoom said.

    Hamas and Fatah ended a power struggle that began last Marchwhen Hamas took office after the parliamentary election. Dispute between the ruling Hamas movement and the once-dominant Fatah movement focused on power sharing.

    Invited by Saudi King Abdullah Ibn Abdul-Aziz, delegations from Hamas and Fatah came to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to settle their dispute. The two sides on Thursday agreed to form a unity government, a move deemed as helpful for lifting an international siege on the Palestinians.

    According to Barhoom, the Mecca accord has underlined commitments to Palestinian national principles and international resolutions on the same level.

    But Fatah spokesman Jamal Nazzal considered Hamas' acceptance of the Mecca deal as acceptance of peace. "Hamas has given up its veto on peace and is no more interested in blocking peace chances."

    Nazzal also called on Israel to deal positively with the "big Palestinian breakthrough."