By NNN-KUNA
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday the newly-formed emergency government will take charge of the situation not only in the West Bank but also in the Gaza Strip.
“This government will have full powers all over the Palestinian homeland, including the bruised Gaza Strip,” Abbas said here after presiding over the oath-taking ceremony and the first meeting of the new emergency cabinet.
“This government, headed by Salam Fayyadh, is all what we can do after the Hamas-led rebellion against legitimacy and the national authority,” he said.
“The rebellion represents a coup d’etat that goes against the values of the basic law which is binding on all Palestinians.
“What has happened in the Gaza Strip prompted us to declare a state of emergency and form the emergency cabinet with a view to stabilise the situation,” the president said, pledging to press ahead with the rule of law and national independence.
He also vowed to maintain “distinguished relations” with all world countries and to work with the new government to lift the embargo on the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Salam Fayyadh asserted the commitment of his government to the platform of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the single legitimate representative of the Palestinian people as well as all previously-signed agreements.
“My government will work as one team in line with the platform of the PLO and all previous commitments under deals signed by the PLO,” he vowed in a speech aired by the Palestine TV channel after the oath-taking ceremony.
“The government takes as top priorities the restoration of order and rule of law, and putting an end to the embargo imposed on the Palestinian people after the Hamas electoral victory in March, 2006.
“It will do its utmost to ensure a better life for the people and reactivate the state bodies stalled by the recent bloody incidents in the Gaza Strip.
“The government will draw up an urgent plan to provide the people with the basic needs and alleviate poverty in a transparent framework of the state institutions,” the new premier pledged.
Addressing the residents in the Gaza Strip, he said: “You are at our hearts and on top of our priorities.”
“We will do our best to prevent reccurrence of the regretful incidents of the recent days,” he added.