EXITS

Palestinian PM Resigns

Fayyad paves way for power-sharing with Hamas.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is stepping down to make way for a power-sharing deal between rivals Hamas and Fatah. But will his gambit work? Hamas officials are already rebuffing the announcement, saying, “This government did not work for the sake of the Palestinians, it worked for its own agenda. This end was expected for a government that was illegal and unconstitutional.” A deal would end the Palestinian power structure in place since June 2007, whereby Hamas controls Gaza and Fatah the West Bank. The two sides held their first reconciliation talks last week and agreed to form a caretaker government ahead of new presidential and parliamentary elections.