Report: Aide to Abbas Predicts Palestinian Unity Government Within 10 Days

MediaLine reports that an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a unity government for the Palestinian Authority is expected to be formed within 10 days. A more cautioned report came from Palestinian Authority spokesman Razi Hamad, who said after Abbas met on Saturday with PM Ismail Haniyeh, talks aimed at establishing a unity government were continuing.

The plan under consideration is set forth in a document that comes from Abbas and includes a request for an international peacekeeping force to be deployed in the Palestinian territories. It also charges Abbas with carrying on negotiations with Israel. Terrorist organizations are asked to halt attacks on Israel "in the supreme national interest." It also sets forth several options for the configuration of a unity government with varying mixes of politicians, technocrats and faction representatives.