Abbas outlaws Hamas militia forces

Story Highlights

• New cabinet replaces dismantled Hamas-Fatah coalition
• Cabinet led by economist Salam Fayyad, who is also finance minister
• Hamas says new emergency Palestinian government illegal
• Israeli Prime Minister says new government will help renewed peace moves

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(CNN) -- The Palestinian leadership was further split Sunday as President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a temporary cabinet for his emergency government, a move described by a Hamas official as "illegal" and outside Abbas' authority.

In addition, Abbas -- the leader of the Fatah movement -- issued a decree outlawing the Hamas militia and the Hamas executive force, although he did not outlaw the Hamas political movement.

Under the temporary government, Salam Fayyad, a well-regarded international economist, has replaced Ismail Haniya as Palestinian prime minister. Abbas chose all political independents for the cabinet.

Hamas rejected the new government.

Haniya's top adviser Ahmed Youssef told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that "there is nothing in the (Palestinian) constitution" that outlines an emergency government.

"There is a state of emergency but there is nothing called 'emergency government,'" Youssef said.

He said the move is "just a mistake" made by Abbas.

Abbas declared a state of emergency as Hamas fighters seized control of Gaza last week.

According to Abbas and his Fatah allies, the president has the power to dissolve the government and form a temporary cabinet after calling for a state of emergency. The Palestinian Legislative Council must convene to vote on the cabinet after a 30-day period. While Hamas has gained control of Gaza, Fatah is trying to consolidate its power in the West Bank.

Fatah official Saeb Erakat denied that there were two Palestinian governments, but made it clear that the newly appointed cabinet's first priority would be to prevent the spread of the "chaos and lawlessness" in Gaza.

"We will not allow ... the catastrophe that's happened in Gaza to reach the West Bank, that's number one," Fatah official Saeb Erakat told CNN's "Late Edition."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the formation of a new Palestinian government creates an "opportunity" for renewed peace moves, The Associated Press reported Sunday.

"We have a new opportunity in the last few days that we haven't had in a long time," Olmert told reporters shortly before taking off for New York. "A government that is not Hamas is a partner."

Hundreds flee

Humanitarian groups are concerned about the isolation of Gaza and its Hamas rulers.

The international community led by the United States cut off international funding to the Palestinian government after Hamas -- which does not recognize Israel's right to exist -- took power last year.

Israeli human rights groups are appealing for the Israeli government to reopen its border crossings with Gaza to allow food and medical relief supplies, one of the groups, called B'Tselem, announced Sunday.

In addition, B'Tselem said, "Hundreds of refugees are attempting to escape the violence and are trapped in Erez Crossing, caught between IDF soldiers and the military wing of Hamas which is preventing these refugees from returning to Gaza."

Karni Crossing, the main Israel-Gaza border crossing, has been closed for six days. According to B'Tselem, Erez crossing was closed on Saturday and Nahal Oz was closed on Sunday.

In addition, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been closed since last weekend.

Talks are under way with Israeli officials about getting the borders open for humanitarian relief, the director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, John Ging, told CNN.

Fuel shipment resumes

The Israeli fuel company that is the sole supplier of gasoline for motorists in Gaza announced Monday it will resume regular shipments to the Palestinian territory.

Dor Alon said on Sunday that it would halt gasoline shipments in the wake of Hamas' take-over of Gaza, but would continue to supply gasoline to Gaza's electricity power plant.

It will resume shipments in coordination with all the "relevant factors," according to a news release.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed to cooperate with an emergency Palestinian government set up by President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Fatah movement.

A Fatah official in the West Bank said Monday that the new government will make it a top priority to make sure the people in Gaza get supplies.

"We will work to make sure that the basic services will flow as normal as possible," Tayib Abdel Rahim said at a news conference.

CNN's Shira Medding in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

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