Abbas: Future unity govt to recognize Israel, condemn violence

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the meeting of the Central Council of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the West Bank city of Ramallah on April 26, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Saturday that the unity government, which will be formed within five weeks, will adopt his strategy of recognizing Israel and condemning violence.

Abbas made the announcement in the meeting of the Central Council of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) held in Ramallah for two days to discuss the future of the political process and the reconciliation with Hamas.

On Wednesday, a senior PLO delegation signed in Gaza an agreement with Islamic Hamas movement leaders on implementing internal reconciliation agreements reached between Hamas and Fatah in 2011 and 2012.

According to the agreement, the two sides agreed to form a technocrat unity government within five weeks and set a date for holding general elections right after the six-month transitional government is sworn in.

Abbas told the meeting that he will start his contacts and consultations on forming the new government that ends more than seven years of internal division within the coming few days.

"The reconciliation agreement signed with Hamas is based on two major points: forming a technocrat independent government and setting a date for holding elections," said Abbas.

He stressed the necessity of holding the presidential and legislative elections as well as the elections for the PLO National Council (PNC).