Hamas government to ‘resign’ to form coalition

PALESTINIAN negotiators last night said a deal on a unity government could be days away, but that it might be delayed by difficulties in working out a parallel prisoner swap with Israel.

The Palestinian president and premier, heading the rival Fatah and Hamas factions, have been attempting to wrap up the deal this week with hopes of lifting the economic sanctions and paving the way for a resumption of long-frozen talks with Israel.

The negotiations have been dragging on for months.