Palestinian Unity Government Sworn-In Monday June 02,2014

For the first time in 7 years, the Palestinians have one government in charge of both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

A long-awaited Govt of National Unity headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah was sworn in by President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (R) is sworn in along with the new Palestinian unity government in the presence of PA President Mahmud Abbas (L) in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, June 2, 2014

The ceremony took place Monday in Ramallah, the Palestinian seat of government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The swearing in marks the end of a 7-year rift between rival factions Hamas and Fatah.


"Today, with the formation of a national consensus government, we announce the end of a Palestinian division that has greatly damaged our national case," Abbas said after the Cabinet was sworn in.

The two sides negotiated until the last minute over the composition of the thirteen member-Cabinet. One contentious issue surrounded the position of prisoner affairs which Hamas demanded be a part of the government. No such minister, however, was sworn in on Monday.
The deal to form the unity government was inked on April 23 in a bid to end years of rivalry between the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the Islamist Hamas party in Gaza. Hamas took power in the coastal enclave following elections in 2007.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which is led by the Fatah party, agreed to work with Hamas to establish an interim government of political independents in order to prepare for long-delayed elections