Hamas Forms Government Without Moderates

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Hamas said Saturday it had completed the formation of its government without succeeding to bring in moderate parties, a step that looked likely to only increase the chances of international isolation.
The narrow government to be presented to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a meeting Sunday could bring on crippling economic sanctions that the World Bank has warned would devastate the poverty-stricken Palestinian territories.
Abbas will approve the Hamas government — which does not include his pragmatic Fatah Party, presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh said.
But he will warn the Islamic militant group, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, that their refusal to moderate their hard-line positions could “get them into trouble,” the spokesman said.
Hamas’ Cabinet lineup has not been made public, but officials in the group said it would hold onto key posts including the foreign, interior and finance ministries.
The Palestinian parliament will not be asked to approve the new Hamas government until after Israel’s March 28 election.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said the international community must be united in demanding Hamas accept the conditions, which have U.N. backing.
“If they continue to reject the international community’s benchmarks they will find the Palestinian Authority will increasingly become a pariah regime in the international community,” Regev said.