Hamas hopes that its plans for a Palestinian Authority coalition
government will be ratified this weekend. Hamas officials told Reuters on
Wednesday that the Palestinian Legislative Council would convene Saturday to
vote on the power-sharing deal signed between the governing Islamist faction
and the moderate Fatah last month. With Hamas’ parliamentary majority,
ratification would appear guaranteed. Israel and Western mediators have
not ruled out diplomatic engagement with the P.A. coalition
government if it accepts peacemaking terms. Such a move appears unlikely,
however, given Hamas’ pledges never to recognize the Jewish state or renounce terrorism.
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