Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sworn in a new government that excludes Hamas, a move praised by both the U.S. and Israel. But the emergency government is likely to preside only over the West Bank because Hamas — which Israeli officials described as a “terrorist entity” — retains control of Gaza.
BBC:
Mr Abbas also issued decrees enabling new Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to rule without parliamentary approval and outlawing all of Hamas’s armed forces.
Mr Fayyad’s predecessor, Ismail Haniya, has said the new government is illegal.
Israel’s government said a non-Hamas administration would create a fresh opportunity for a partnership in peace.