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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority on Thursday asked Rami Hamdallah, the prime minister, to form a new unity government, a move that could send Israeli-Palestinian relations into a tailspin and would disrupt any prospect of a resumption of American-brokered peace talks , New York Times.

The decision to form a unity government is the result of a pact reached last month between Mr. Abbas’s Palestine Liberation Organization, which is dominated by the mainstream Fatah faction, and its rival, Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza. Palestinian officials said the new government, made up of politically independent professionals, would likely be announced within days.

“This letter designates Dr. Rami Hamdallah to form a new transitional government,” Mr. Abbas said Thursday, according to WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, at an appearance with Mr. Hamdallah. “I wish him luck in this difficult task which he will undertake.”

The possibility has already prompted stern warnings from Israel, which says it will not deal with a government “backed by Hamas,” even if the ministers themselves are not politically affiliated. Hamas has refused to recognize Israel, which, like the United States and the European Union, classifies Hamas as a terrorist organization.

A Palestinian unity government could also prove to be a new source of tension between Israel and the Obama administration, because of possible differences over how to deal with the new Palestinian government.

“We think that by embracing Hamas, Abbas is increasing the levels of volatility and danger,” an Israeli government official said, requesting anonymity because he was speaking before a new Palestinian government had formally been announced. “We are concerned that Hamas will exploit the pact to strengthen its position in the West Bank.”

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said a few more days were needed to finalize the government. Other officials suggested that one or two ministerial appointments were still in dispute.

But the Israeli official added that once Mr. Abbas “consummates” his alliance with Hamas, he could be held accountable for any rockets fired against Israel by militants in Gaza. “He will become an address for our response,” the official said, refusing to elaborate.

After the unity pact between the Palestinian factions was announced in April, Israel broke off peace negotiations with Mr. Abbas days before the expiration of the American-brokered talks. Israel also said it would deduct money from the monthly transfer of tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to offset Palestinian debts to Israeli utility companies, and barred high-level meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials, other than those on issues relating to security.

Once a unity Palestinian government is formed, Israel can be expected to take further steps. In the past it has stopped the transfer of tax revenues altogether, putting the financially fragile Palestinian Authority under intense pressure.