Informed sources said that an initial agreement has been reached in the talks aimed at forming the new government.
According to this agreement, Hamas will head ten of the ministries while Fatah will hold six ministerial posts.
The source added that four of the ministries will go to other blocs in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and five other ministerial posts will be granted to independent figures unaffiliated to any political faction.
Hamas will nominate three names for the independent posts, and Fatah will have the right to reject one of these three names. Fatah will also nominate two names for the independent posts and Hamas will have the right to reject one of these two names.
Officials from the rival Fatah and Hamas parties on Monday said they had agreed upon Shubir, the former president of the Islamic University in Gaza, as the prime minister.
The source renewed confirmation that, in this initial agreement, Dr. Mohammad Shubir has been agreed upon as the most likely candidate
All indications point out that he the most likely candidate to lead the unity government
Top Palestinian official said that President Abbas has already agreed to the candidacy of Shubir as prime minister and hopes to make Ziad Abu Amar foreign minister. Abu Amar, an academic who frequently speaks at U.S. universities, was supported by Hamas in the last parliamentary election.
The sources say that Salam Fayyad, who served as finance minister in previous PA governments and is considered close to the U.S., is likely to be tapped for that position again in the new cabinet.
According to the sources, Hamas wants individuals closely affiliated closely with the movement to man cabinet posts connected to domestic affairs, including the Interior, Education, Health and Waqf (religion affairs) ministries.
Hamas is likely to have 11 or 12 ministers, while Fatah may have to settle for between five and seven ministers.
Representatives of both parties deny that any discussion or agreement on ministry staffing has taken place.
Dr Shubir, the former president of the Islamic University of Gaza, is not affiliated to any political faction, he is an independent.
Dr Shubir said earlier, Monday, that he maintains "sound relations with all", including the United States, but would only be willing to address his views on Israel after he was officially named to the post.
"I will make my position clear after the appointment", he said, but added that he would act "realistically".
Shubir, who has a doctorate in microbiology from the University of West Virginia, is considered to be close to Hamas, but he is not an active supporter, nor is he identified with any Palestinian organization.
Trusted Palestinian sources said that the Palestinian Authority told the American Administration, the Quartet and the Arab counties, officially, that Professor Dr Mohamed Shubir is the most likely candidate to lead the unity government, the Quartet said that they don't mind.
Dr Shubir told Hamas and Fateh that he accept this position as PM, also the Israeli Justice Minister and the Construction and Housing Minister Maeir Shatreet said that Israel dose not mind the appointing of Dr Shubir as PM.
Yousef Alhelou is a freelance Palestinian Journalist. He can be contacted on ydamadan@hotmail.com
According to this agreement, Hamas will head ten of the ministries while Fatah will hold six ministerial posts.
The source added that four of the ministries will go to other blocs in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and five other ministerial posts will be granted to independent figures unaffiliated to any political faction.
Hamas will nominate three names for the independent posts, and Fatah will have the right to reject one of these three names. Fatah will also nominate two names for the independent posts and Hamas will have the right to reject one of these two names.
Officials from the rival Fatah and Hamas parties on Monday said they had agreed upon Shubir, the former president of the Islamic University in Gaza, as the prime minister.
The source renewed confirmation that, in this initial agreement, Dr. Mohammad Shubir has been agreed upon as the most likely candidate
All indications point out that he the most likely candidate to lead the unity government
Top Palestinian official said that President Abbas has already agreed to the candidacy of Shubir as prime minister and hopes to make Ziad Abu Amar foreign minister. Abu Amar, an academic who frequently speaks at U.S. universities, was supported by Hamas in the last parliamentary election.
The sources say that Salam Fayyad, who served as finance minister in previous PA governments and is considered close to the U.S., is likely to be tapped for that position again in the new cabinet.
According to the sources, Hamas wants individuals closely affiliated closely with the movement to man cabinet posts connected to domestic affairs, including the Interior, Education, Health and Waqf (religion affairs) ministries.
Hamas is likely to have 11 or 12 ministers, while Fatah may have to settle for between five and seven ministers.
Representatives of both parties deny that any discussion or agreement on ministry staffing has taken place.
Dr Shubir, the former president of the Islamic University of Gaza, is not affiliated to any political faction, he is an independent.
Dr Shubir said earlier, Monday, that he maintains "sound relations with all", including the United States, but would only be willing to address his views on Israel after he was officially named to the post.
"I will make my position clear after the appointment", he said, but added that he would act "realistically".
Shubir, who has a doctorate in microbiology from the University of West Virginia, is considered to be close to Hamas, but he is not an active supporter, nor is he identified with any Palestinian organization.
Trusted Palestinian sources said that the Palestinian Authority told the American Administration, the Quartet and the Arab counties, officially, that Professor Dr Mohamed Shubir is the most likely candidate to lead the unity government, the Quartet said that they don't mind.
Dr Shubir told Hamas and Fateh that he accept this position as PM, also the Israeli Justice Minister and the Construction and Housing Minister Maeir Shatreet said that Israel dose not mind the appointing of Dr Shubir as PM.
Yousef Alhelou is a freelance Palestinian Journalist. He can be contacted on ydamadan@hotmail.com