Abbas, Haneya hold "decisive" talks on forming new government

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held on Monday night "decisive" talks with Prime Minister of Hamas- led government Ismail Haneya in Gaza City on forming a national unity government.

Official Palestinian sources at Abbas headquarters in Gaza City said that there were two major subjects on the agenda on Abbas- Haneya meeting.

One subject is the formation of a Palestinian national unity government that end the political and economical crisis faced by the Palestinians, and the other is about the ongoing Israeli military operations in northern Gaza Strip, according to the sources.

Abbas traveled to Gaza for the talks, where Haneya was expected to announce the resignation of the Hamas-led government following a deal to form a new unity one, a Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) member said earlier on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum announced that the movement had agreed in principle with Abbas on forming a national unity government on condition of keeping the right of choosing the prime minister.

Israeli troops continued one of its biggest military operation in Gaza Strip, which started on Nov. 1, and has so far killed at least 49 Palestinians.

Source: Xinhua