A high-ranking Palestinian source has claimed that the delay in the formation of the Palestinian unity government, which, it was agreed between Hamas and Fatah, will be headed by Mahmoud Abbas, follows a request from Abbas.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said that Abbas told the Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal, during their latest meeting in Cairo, that he’d like to postpone the formation of the government until a date is obtained from the Israeli authorities for elections in East Jerusalem. The PA President stressed that Palestinian elections will not be held without East Jerusalem, and that he can’t head a government whose main purpose is to hold elections without having a time limit.
Hamas, noted the source, showed some understanding of the situation. He denied the claim made by Fatah’s Azzam El Ahmed that the postponement request originated with Meshaal.