Hamas: Israel will not manipulate us like it did Fatah

Hamas, which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas last week asked to form the next government, has finalized plans to form an alternative government in case current efforts to include Fatah reaches a dead-end.

Hamas officials told IRNA that "Scenario-2" was being finalized in anticipation of the possible failure of efforts to include Fatah in the upcoming government. "We are not placing all our eggs in one basket, We will not allow the task of forming the government to be held hostage to Fatah's whims and internal differences," said Hamas lawmaker Nayef Rajoub.

Rajoub said Fatah was insisting the next government adopts "all the agreements the PLO and PA signed with Israel."

"Of course we can't accept these vague agreements. We will not recognize Israel in return for vague promises about a vague state. Israel toyed around with Fatah for 13 years, we will not make the same mistakes again."