Palestinian Unity Government Will Be Sworn in Next Month

By Haaretz December 21, 2011

Hamas and Fatah have agreed to form a unity government by January 2012, an official for the Gaza-ruling militant group said on Wednesday, following months of failed talks geared at achieving Palestinian reconciliation.

The rival Palestinian factions have been attempting to put into action a reconciliation agreement brokered by Egypt and signed earlier this year in Cairo.

Israel has rejected the agreement, refusing to negotiate with a government including Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

On Wednesday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told the Palestinian news agency Ma’an that Fatah and Hamas leaders have stated that a joint cabinet will be sworn in by the end of January 2012.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO