RAMALLAH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtaye announced on Sunday that he finalized his consultations with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) factions on forming the new Palestinian unity government.
Ishtaye said in a press statement that his consultations have been ongoing over the past two weeks, adding that he also held meetings with representatives of the civil society, the private sector and municipal councils in the Palestinian community.
Consultations on forming the new unity government were held in a positive atmosphere, in support of the general vision of the government and its program, he said, adding that he is waiting for the response of the factions on whether they will join the new government.
According to the statement, consultations were held with nine Palestinian factions and parties, most of which are represented in the PLO Executive Committee and left wing groups, including the Democratic Front (DFLP) and the Popular Front (PFLP).
The PFLP and the DFLP, two main factions after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement in the PLO, as well as Islamic Hamas movement and the Islamic Jihad, who are not in the PLO, announced that they refuse to join.
