ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned world leaders yesterday not to recognise the Palestinian unity government which is expected to be declared today.

Mr Netanyahu said the new government would “strengthen terrorism” because Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel.

“The international community must not embrace it,” he insisted at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting.

Israel has already denied three future Palestinian ministers entry to the West Bank ahead of the official convening of the new government, which will allow joint administration of the Gaza Strip and West Bank for the first time since 2007.

The head of Israel’s military administration in the Palestinian territories, Major General Yoav Mordechai, has told the Palestinians that the trio will not be permitted to cross.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that he expects the unity government to be announced today.

He told French peace activists in the West Bank city of Ramallah: “We will announce the government the day after tomorrow.
“It will be formed of technocrats and independents.”

President Abbas asked Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Thursday to head the new government.

None of the unity government’s members would belong to either Fatah, which rules the Israeli-occupied West Bank, or Hamas, which holds sway in the Gaza Strip, Mr Abbas said.

But he warned that Israel “has informed us today they will boycott us if we announce the government.”

President Abbas said the new government would continue to abide by his policy of recognising Israel.

Israel illegally withheld tax revenues from the Palestinian authorities last month in retaliation for President Abbas signing accords with international organisations.