RAMALLAH (WAFA) – Palestinian national consensus government, headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, Monday took the oath of office before President Mahmoud Abbas, who announced the end of national division which lasted from 2007 to 2014.

“Today we announce the restoration of national and institutional unity. As for the unity of [our] people, it has always been preserved and has never been susceptible to split,” said Abbas during the oath-of-office ceremony of the new government.

“By forming the national consensus government today, we hereby announce the end of division which had resulted in catastrophic consequences to our national cause during the past seven years,” he added.

He said the government is a transitional one whose mission is to prepare for general elections, stressing the new government’s commitment to the obligations of the Palestinian Authority and all previously signed agreements as well as with the PLO’s political program.

Regarding the Israeli threats against the reconciliation agreement, Abbas said “[the Israeli threats] make us more committed to what we have achieved and very insistent on continuing with [our reconciliation path].”

He said such threats uncover the “real intentions of the occupation” which targets the division of the Palestinian nation in order to continue with the Judiazation of Jerusalem, the seizure of land, the expansion of settlements, and the obstruction of any international efforts aimed at achieving peace.

“We do not want escalation nor do we seek more tension, but we will not stand fold hands in the face of collective punishment; we will use political, diplomatic and legal means to react [to these threats],” ascertained Abbas.

“We will face many obstacles, but we believe the ‘train of reconciliation’ has already taken off and no one can stop it; our people will not allow that to happen again.”

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency - WAFA