Palestinian Prime Minister: Unity government in less than three weeks

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday he hopes to form a new coalition government with Fatah in less than three weeks. On Thursday, Haniyeh and his government resigned and President Mahmoud Abbas appointed him to form the new cabinet, based on last week’s understandings in the Saudi city of Mecca.

According to the Palestinian law, Haniyeh has five weeks to present a new Cabinet. During that period, Hamas and Fatah need to resolve disputes over control of the security forces and whether to dismantle a separate Hamas militia.