Ma'an News Agency reported Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who was mandated by President Mahmoud Abbas to form a replacement caretaker government for the West Bank has decided to postpone the swearing in of a new government, sources said Wednesday.
Fatah's parliamentary bloc held late night sessions and resolved to oppose the new government on the grounds that the PM should come from Fatah. It also felt that the new government should be formed after the unity talks with Hamas conclude, fearing the new government too closely resembled Fayyad's caretaker government formed after the Hamas split in 2007. The party also opposed other cabinet picks by Fayyad, namely the ones from Fayyad's Third Road party.
Other roadblocks came in the decisions by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) and Fida from the Palestine Liberation Organization to boycott the new government, and turn down the ministries offered to them.
Abu Mazen said the government's formation is postponed until Sunday.
White House Names Dates for Middle East Leader Visits
Obama will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 18, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on May 26 and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on May 28.
Pope Visit to Bethlehem Mixed
Israel rejected the stage next to the wall.
While the pope visits Bethlehem and the Aida refugee camp, Christians in Bethlehem are reminded of their thinning numbers. They cite the effects of the Israeli occupation, including the suffocating Wall Israel built around the city, as making life untenable there.They hope the pope's visit sheds light on their experiences.
In front of 10,000 on-lookers in Bethlehem, he said, "I know how much you have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the turmoil that has afflicted this land for decades. My heart goes out to all the families who have been left homeless."
He also referred implicitly to Israel’s 22-day offensive in Gaza, saying that "in a special way my heart goes out to the pilgrims from war-torn Gaza: I ask you to bring back to your families and your communities my warm embrace, and my sorrow for the loss, the hardship and the suffering you have had to endure."
“Please be assured of my solidarity with you in the immense work of rebuilding which now lies ahead and my prayers that the embargo will soon be lifted,” he said.
The pope called for a Palestinian state and said he prayed for an end to Israel's embargo of Gaza. He also urged young Palestinians to "have the courage to resist any temptation you may feel to resort to acts of violence or terrorism."
Pope Addresses Aida Refugee Camp, Comments on Wall
Visit planners in the Aida refugee camp began designing a stage for the pope with the Wall as a backdrop. Israel rejected these plans. They set up a smaller stage across the street, but completed the larger stage next to the wall, a testament to the restrictions on their lives. Still, the pope was photographed by the Wall. He called it a symbol of "stalemate" between Israel and the Palestinians, urging both sides to break a "spiral of violence."
aid he wanted to "express my solidarity with all the homeless Palestinians who long to be able to return to their birthplace, or to live permanently in a homeland of their own." The audience clapped.The pope added: "It is understandable that you often feel frustrated. Your legitimate aspirations for permanent homes, for an independent Palestinian state remain unfulfilled.
"Instead you find yourselves trapped ... in a spiral of violence, of attack and counter-attack, retaliation and continual destruction. The whole world is longing for this spiral to be broken, for peace to put an end to the constant fighting."
HEADLINES
Mubarak to Israel: Progress before recognition (The Associated Press)
Obama to push Israelis, Palestinians on peace (Washington Post)
Politics abounds on pope's mission of peace to Israel (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Israel hands over Lebanon cluster bomb maps: UN (Washington Post)
US elected to UN rights council for first time (Washington Post)
Palestinians and Israeli Jews to reach equal number by 2016 (Ha'aretz)
Haaretz's Amira Hass detained on leaving Gaza (Ha'aretz)
Palestine and the Palestinians
The Israeli military kidnaps a mother of "Wanted" Palestinian in northern West Bank (IMEMC)
Israel partially opens three Gaza crossings for fuel and aid (Ma'an News Agency)
Akko residents to hold first Nakba parade (Ynetnews)
Palestinian Refugees & Lebanon's Election: Part II (Scoop.co.nz)
Islamic Jihad: Don't recognize Israel (Ynetnews)
Israeli zones limit Palestinian justice (Washington Times)
Israel
Israel approves budget after marathon session (AFP)
ISRAEL: High hopes for Christian pilgrims (Los Angeles Times)
Israel army questions soldiers about Gaza looting (The Associated Press)
Combat soldier admits to looting Gaza home (ynet)
Israeli soldier killed by comrade's gun - army (Reuters)
The Neighbors
'Syria willing to resume talks as soon as Israel is ready' (Ha'aretz)
Mubarak says Israeli FM still not welcome in Egypt (AFP)
Palestinians must unite before creation of state: Mubarak (Africasia)
Mubarak: Obama different than Bush (ynet)
IDF fencing off part of Egyptian border to prevent infiltrations (Jerusalem Post)
Q&A | Egyptian ambassador says Palestinian state key to Mideast peace (Kansas City Star)
6 more accused of spying for Israel (ynet)
Hezbollah confirms support for Palestinian resistance (WashingtonTV)
Hizbullah confirms broad aid for Hamas (Jerusalem Post)
Israel: No decision on divided town until Lebanese election (Ynetnews)
US Foreign Policy
Friction, but no crisis expected in Obama-Netanyahu talks (AFP)
Tenuous Moves For White House On Israel (CBS News)
International Relations/Law
UN's Ban urges Israel to change settlement policy (Reuters)
Analysis: For Israel, Iranian threat has priority (The Associated Press)
Abbas tells Ahmadinejad to bury his head (Haber 27)
Understanding Iran's Deterrence Game (TIME)
Israel's hardline foreign minister to meet Miliband (guardian.co.uk)
Thousands of UN employees on strike in Jordan (Jerusalem Post)
Arts and Activism
Israeli-Palestinian Duo Takes First Eurovision Semi (The Moscow Times)
Misc.
Palestinian football team to play friendly game with Turkish team (www.worldbulletin.net)
Christians United for Israel Hosts First National Church Event ... (U.S. News & World Report)
Commentary
Ghassan Khatib: A complicated and unilaterally imposed situation (Israel Policy Forum)
MICHAEL BAR-ZOHAR: The Jordanian option is back (Jerusalem Post)
Palestinians & Israelis like Jesus, int'l community like Apostles? (Reuters)
Kaveh L Afrasiabi: Crisis of confidence in US-Israel ties (Asia Times Online)
David Horovitz: Has the Obama-Israel Joint Policy on Iran's Nukes Ruptured? (Cutting Edge)
Hasan Abu Nimah: Covering up Israel's Gaza crimes with UN help (Electronic Intifada)
Aziz Abu Sarah: A Palestinian remembers the lessons of the Holocaust (Daily Star)
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