(CNN) -- The leadership rift between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah deepened Sunday as President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a temporary cabinet for his emergency government in an attempt to regain control of the region.
Abbas also issued a decree stating that the Hamas militia and the Hamas executive force were outlawed, although an Abbas adviser said he was not outlawing the Islamic Hamas movement.
Soon after ministers were sworn in, Hamas said the government was "illegal" and outside the authority of Fatah movement leader Abbas.
The emergency cabinet replaces the Hamas-Fatah coalition Abbas dismantled after Hamas took control of Gaza by force this week. The new cabinet in the West Bank will be led by economist Salam Fayyad, who replaces Ismail Haniya as Palestinian prime minister
But Haniya's top adviser, Ahmed Youssef, told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that "there is nothing in the (Palestinian) constitution" that outlines an emergency government.
"There is a state of emergency but there is nothing called 'emergency government,'" Youssef said.
He said the move was "just a mistake" made by Abbas. Abbas declared a state of emergency as Hamas fighters seized control of Gaza last week.
According to Abbas and his Fatah allies, the president has the power to dissolve the government and form a temporary cabinet after calling for a state of emergency. The Palestinian Legislative Council must convene to vote on the cabinet after a 30-day period. While Hamas has gained control of Gaza, Fatah is trying to consolidate its power in the West Bank.
Fatah official Saeb Erakat denied that there were two Palestinian governments, but made it clear that the newly appointed cabinet's first priority would be to prevent the spread of the "chaos and lawlessness" in Gaza.
"We will not allow ... the catastrophe that's happened in Gaza to reach the West Bank, that's number one," Fatah official Saeb Erakat told CNN's "Late Edition."
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the formation of a new Palestinian government creates an "opportunity" for renewed peace moves, The Associated Press reported Sunday.
"We have a new opportunity in the last few days that we haven't had in a long time," Olmert told reporters shortly before taking off for New York. "A government that is not Hamas is a partner."
Hundreds flee
Humanitarian groups are concerned about the isolation of Gaza and its Hamas rulers.
The international community led by the United States cut off international funding to the Palestinian government after Hamas -- which does not recognize Israel's right to exist -- took power last year.
Israeli human rights groups are appealing for the Israeli government to reopen its border crossings with Gaza to allow food and medical relief supplies, one of the groups, called B'Tselem, announced Sunday.
In addition, B'Tselem said, "Hundreds of refugees are attempting to escape the violence and are trapped in Erez Crossing, caught between IDF soldiers and the military wing of Hamas which is preventing these refugees from returning to Gaza."
Karni Crossing, the main Israel-Gaza border crossing, has been closed for six days. According to B'Tselem, Erez crossing was closed on Saturday and Nahal Oz was closed on Sunday.
In addition, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been closed since last weekend.
Talks are under way with Israeli officials about getting the borders open for humanitarian relief, the director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, John Ging, told CNN.
Fuel supplies cut
The sole supplier of gasoline for motorists in Gaza has announced it will no longer provide gasoline to stations there in the wake of the Hamas takeover.
The Israeli fuel company Dor Alon said that the company will continue to supply gasoline to Gaza's electricity power plant, a spokeswoman said.
The Dor Alon spokeswoman would not say what prompted Sunday's announcement, however, its supply agreement is with the Palestinian Authority which no longer is in control of Gaza.
The company had threatened to cut off gasoline supplies in the past over non-payment issues.
Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
Abbas also issued a decree stating that the Hamas militia and the Hamas executive force were outlawed, although an Abbas adviser said he was not outlawing the Islamic Hamas movement.
Soon after ministers were sworn in, Hamas said the government was "illegal" and outside the authority of Fatah movement leader Abbas.
The emergency cabinet replaces the Hamas-Fatah coalition Abbas dismantled after Hamas took control of Gaza by force this week. The new cabinet in the West Bank will be led by economist Salam Fayyad, who replaces Ismail Haniya as Palestinian prime minister
But Haniya's top adviser, Ahmed Youssef, told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that "there is nothing in the (Palestinian) constitution" that outlines an emergency government.
"There is a state of emergency but there is nothing called 'emergency government,'" Youssef said.
He said the move was "just a mistake" made by Abbas. Abbas declared a state of emergency as Hamas fighters seized control of Gaza last week.
According to Abbas and his Fatah allies, the president has the power to dissolve the government and form a temporary cabinet after calling for a state of emergency. The Palestinian Legislative Council must convene to vote on the cabinet after a 30-day period. While Hamas has gained control of Gaza, Fatah is trying to consolidate its power in the West Bank.
Fatah official Saeb Erakat denied that there were two Palestinian governments, but made it clear that the newly appointed cabinet's first priority would be to prevent the spread of the "chaos and lawlessness" in Gaza.
"We will not allow ... the catastrophe that's happened in Gaza to reach the West Bank, that's number one," Fatah official Saeb Erakat told CNN's "Late Edition."
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the formation of a new Palestinian government creates an "opportunity" for renewed peace moves, The Associated Press reported Sunday.
"We have a new opportunity in the last few days that we haven't had in a long time," Olmert told reporters shortly before taking off for New York. "A government that is not Hamas is a partner."
Hundreds flee
Humanitarian groups are concerned about the isolation of Gaza and its Hamas rulers.
The international community led by the United States cut off international funding to the Palestinian government after Hamas -- which does not recognize Israel's right to exist -- took power last year.
Israeli human rights groups are appealing for the Israeli government to reopen its border crossings with Gaza to allow food and medical relief supplies, one of the groups, called B'Tselem, announced Sunday.
In addition, B'Tselem said, "Hundreds of refugees are attempting to escape the violence and are trapped in Erez Crossing, caught between IDF soldiers and the military wing of Hamas which is preventing these refugees from returning to Gaza."
Karni Crossing, the main Israel-Gaza border crossing, has been closed for six days. According to B'Tselem, Erez crossing was closed on Saturday and Nahal Oz was closed on Sunday.
In addition, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been closed since last weekend.
Talks are under way with Israeli officials about getting the borders open for humanitarian relief, the director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, John Ging, told CNN.
Fuel supplies cut
The sole supplier of gasoline for motorists in Gaza has announced it will no longer provide gasoline to stations there in the wake of the Hamas takeover.
The Israeli fuel company Dor Alon said that the company will continue to supply gasoline to Gaza's electricity power plant, a spokeswoman said.
The Dor Alon spokeswoman would not say what prompted Sunday's announcement, however, its supply agreement is with the Palestinian Authority which no longer is in control of Gaza.
The company had threatened to cut off gasoline supplies in the past over non-payment issues.
Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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