Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said Wednesday that it would take his government "time and effort" to unify state institutions in the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip.
Meeting a group of senior West Bank judges, Hamdallah said the years-long political rift between the two Palestinian territories would complicate the new government's efforts to unite their respective state institutions.
He dealt especially on judicial authorities in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as government ministries in both territories.
The two movements, however, recently signed a reconciliation agreement that paved the way for a national unity government unveiled last week.
The new government will manage Palestinian affairs in Gaza and the West Bank until legislative elections can be held within six months, according to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamdallah recently visited the Health Ministry in Ramallah, where the newly-appointed health minister told him about recent efforts to merge his ministry with its counterpart in Gaza.
By Qais Abu Samra
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
