Abbas Ends Palestinian ‘Unity Government’

Following days of violence between Hamas and Fatah forces in Gaza, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas put an end to the recently established “national unity government,” which for three months had attempted to balance the two factions in an official coalition, and fired Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

The Independent:

Mr Abbas’s move, which Fatah hopes will underpin its dominance of the West Bank after the near-total defeat of its forces in Gaza, underlined the growing separation of the two Palestinian entities and prompted talk among some Israeli analysts of a “three-state solution” ­ involving Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

Hamas Radio underlined Mr Abbas’s lack of control over Gaza when it said the faction had taken control of his presidential compound, a symbolic last redoubt of Fatah power in Gaza.

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