palestine president mahmoud abbas
Inside Story

The new Palestinian government

What does a Fatah-dominated government mean for Palestinian unity?

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and Fatah faction leader, has sworn in a new Palestinian government – and already his motives are being questioned by both critics and party members.

Fatah dominates the new government with eight out of the 20 seats in the cabinet. The rest are taken up by independents and other factions, except for Hamas. It has been excluded.

The move has divided Fatah, with two affiliated members refusing to take seats in cabinet. Fatah’s rival, Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, says it amounts to deliberate sabotage of the unity talks going on in Cairo, Egypt.

So what does this mean for Palestinian unity? And can Abbas stay in control of his own movement?

Inside Story, with presenter Shiulie Gosh, discusses.

This episode of Inside Story aired on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.