The deputy head of the Politburo of the Palestinian radical movement Hamas, Musa Abu Marzuk, said yesterday in Damascus that a Palestinian government of national unity will be formed by the end of November, and it will be headed by Muhammad Shabir. He is a compromise figure for Hamas and moderate Fatah, although many in the autonomy consider him a person close to Hamas. Shabir, 60, trained as a microbiologist in the United States and headed the Islamic University in Gaza until 2005. According to Marzouk, the unveiling of the cabinet should be preceded by the lifting of the financial blockade of the Palestinian Authority by Israel and the West. Meanwhile, the head of the Palestinian Foreign Ministry and one of the founders of Hamas, Mahmoud Zahhar, unexpectedly announced that his organization supports the Arab initiative to hold an international conference on the Middle East settlement. Israel can also take part in it.
