With three weeks left to the deadline to form a Palestinian unity government, a spokesman for the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) confirmed on Saturday that the deadline would be met.

Fawzi Abu Eita told the Ma’an news agency that the unity government would be established prior to the five week deadline, as agreed upon by the two major Palestinian factions – the PLO and Hamas. Following the formation of a unity government, new elections would be called within a six month time frame.

Abu Eita said that senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad would be visiting the Gaza Strip “soon” to finalize the details of the formation of the government. He also implied that the new government would help improve Egypt-Gaza relations.

“Our (Egyptian) brothers are interested in a legitimate body, and they view President Mahmoud Abbas as the symbol of Palestinian legitimacy. Thus, the Egyptian government will agree to deal with any entity…which represents President Abbas who will also be prime minister in the coming unity government,” Abu Eita said.

The historic deal between the rivaling West Bank and Gaza based parties was struck on April 23, leading to the complete collapse of the last round of US-brokered peace talks. Ending a seven year rift, the two factions agreed to unite in a surprise move.

Hamas, a terrorist organization which governs the West Bank, has been welcomed with open arms by the Palestinian Authority, the governing council in the West Bank. For example, recently the PA has allowed Hamas newspapers to be distributed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and vice versa. Both sides have also agreed to exchange prisoners as part of the deal.

Upon announcing the deal, Israel announced it would no longer take part in negotiations that include terrorists. Israel has imposed various economic and diplomatic sanctions on the PA in response to the announcement.

The US has warned the PA that should it form the government with Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organization in the US, all funding would be cut off. Congress has already begun to take steps to formalize the procedure of cutting off aid to the Palestinians in the form of some $440 million annually.