Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in an emergency Cabinet today and outlawed the militia forces of the Islamic Hamas movement, deepening the violent rupture in Palestinian society.

Israeli officials will shun Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams during his first trip to the region because of plans to meet with members of the Hamas militant group, a government spokesman said today.

The entire Palestinian Cabinet could be targeted for assassination after the Hamas-led government appointed a wanted militant as head of a new Palestinian security force, an Israeli politician and former intelligence chief said today.

ARMED Palestinian militants shut down a government building in the West Bank yesterday.

Thousands of Hamas supporters have demonstrated against Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas’ peace efforts as leaders of the militant group said they were pulling out of talks aimed at ending attacks on Israelis.