PLO to discuss forming new Palestinian gov't

RAMALLAH - Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is to hold a meeting later on Monday to discuss the formation of a new Palestinian government and its political platform, a senior group official said.

Ahmed Majdalani, PLO executive committee member, told Xinhua that President Mahmoud Abbas is to chair the meeting that will be attended by outgoing prime minister Rami Hamdallah.

The unity government resigned following a meeting between Abbas and Hamdallah in Ramallah on Wednesday.

It was formed last year in a bid to heal rifts between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah party.

"Today's meeting is going to decide the nature of the new government, its vision and its platform, on which it will depend in the future," said Majdalani.

The PLO official clarified that the formation of a government, which is supposed to group all Palestinian political arena, has to benefit from the experiences of the previous government.

He noted that Islamic Hamas movement, which is Abbas' rival that has been keeping its grip on the Gaza Strip since 2007, has been invited to join the new government.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Reyad al-Malki said on Sunday that the upcoming new government will be committed to the requirements of the international Quartet, which include the recognition of Israel and the signed peace accords as well as denouncing violence.

However, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri earlier stated that joining a government that abides by the Quartet's requirements, is unacceptable.