Hamas rejects new Ramallah government as illegitimate

Hamas protested Monday Palestinian President Abbas over appointing a university rector to form a new government in Ramallah, claiming that it is contrary to the Hamas-Fatah agreement reached in Cairo. Calling upon Abbas to implement the  Hamas-Fatah agreement at once, Hamas spokesman in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhri said, "the new government in Ramallah has no legitimacy. Forming such a government is contrary to thePalestinian reconciliation." Abu Zuhri told the Anadolu Agency that the new government would be an continuation of Salam Fayyad government and do not represent the Palestinian people, saying "the new Ramallah government to be formed is illegitimate." Palestinian News Agency WAFA reported that Abbas on Sunday assigned Al-Najah University's Rector Rami al-Hamdallah to form the new government after the resignation of Salam Fayyad. Al-Hamdallah is also a member of the Fatah Party led by Abbas, and the secretary general of the Palestinian election committee. Fayyad stepped down as president back in April, but President Abbas asked him to stay in office until the new government was formed. Brokered by Egypt, the Hamas-Fatah talks held on May 14 in Cairo resulted in an agreement on forming a new national reconciliation government and determining the election date.