Hamas Cabinet Resigns
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Hamas Cabinet resigned yesterday to make way for a coalition with the rival Fatah Party of the Palestinian Arab president, Mahmoud Abbas, who gave his blessing despite what his aides said was a warning from America that Washington would shun the new government.
Mr. Abbas presided over a brief ceremony in which Prime Minister Haniyeh of Hamas submitted the resignation of his Cabinet, ending months of stop-and-go power-sharing negotiations.
Mr. Abbas then asked Mr. Haniyeh, as head of a caretaker government, to form a Hamas-Fatah coalition within five weeks. In his letter of appointment, Mr. Abbas said the new government must “respect” international accords, wording that implies acceptance of Israel but falls short of international demands for recognition.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack would not confirm the report of a possible American boycott.
