AFTER months of violence a Palestinian coalition government was agreed by the rival factions of Hamas and Fatah yesterday, but Israel firmly refused to recognise it.

The new government’s main agenda is to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. But it will not explicitly recognise Israel and it still affirms that the Palestinians have a right to all forms of resistance against occupation.

Introducing the government, President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, said the Palestinians rejected violence in all its forms, underscoring his ideological differences with Hamas, whose leader, Ismail Haniya, is prime minister.

The Saudis, who brokered the government agreement and will host an Arab League conference later this month, believe it represents a fresh start for peace negotiations. The European Union and the American administration have hinted they will cooperate with nonHamas ministers in the government. But the Israelis categorically reject any contact with it.

Before the deal was struck to form a unity government, clashes occurred almost daily in Gaza between militants from Hamas and Fatah.

Israel last week held its biggest rehearsal for a military attack on Hamas militants in Gaza. “We’re ready to crack down on Hamas,” said a platoon commander.

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