Palestinian left-wing party refuses to participate in new government

The left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) says it will not take part in any new Palestinian unity government, which is expected to be formed in the central West Bank city of Ramallah.

The PFLP, which is the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), announced in a statement that it had officially notified the Fatah movement led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of its position over the weekend.

“The crisis that the Palestinian political arena is passing through on various levels amid [a] deepened internal split urges all of us to stop carrying out any measures that will complicate the situation, including the formation of a government,” the statement read.

It then warned that the formation of a new government “would bring more obstacles that would block any opportunity for achieving reconciliation and ending the internal split.”

The PFLP called for an alternative to the formation of a new government by holding an emergency meeting for activating the PLO, and reaching an agreement on a joint political platform.

Meanwhile, Hamas resistance movement has hailed a firm refusal by PLO-affiliated political factions to join the next Palestinian government.

"The fact that senior PLO factions refused to strike political partnership with the Fatah government is a step in the right direction” to stop the policy of singularity, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri wrote in a post published on his official Tweeter page.

“Such a reaction is a proof that Palestinians have no option other than joining forces in favor of national unity,” he added.

PressTV-‘Hamas won’t be part of any puppet Palestinian govt.’

The deputy head of the Hamas political bureau says his movement will not be part of any next puppet Palestinian government.

Late last month, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah officially submitted his resignation and that of his unity government to Abbas, casting doubt on the prospects of reconciliation efforts with Hamas.

Abbas had been facing pressure from his ruling Fatah movement over the past few weeks to remove Hamdallah from power, and establish a new government comprised of representatives from PLO factions in addition to independent figures.

Hamdallah headed the Palestinian National Consensus Government, which was formed after Fatah and Hamas reached an agreement in 2014.

PressTV-Palestinian prime minister, government resign

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah has tendered his resignation and that of his unity government.

Fatah leaders said there was no point in keeping the government in power in the wake of the continued crisis between their faction and Hamas.

They also argue that since their faction is the largest group in the PLO, it should have a strong presence in any government.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk