The Islamist group Hamas opened discussion on Monday about forming a new Palestinian government with other military groups, assuring that they will not give in to international pressure. T

The recently elected Hamas organization said that one of its goals is to establish a powerful coalition and will declare truce if Israel would withdraw the troops which occupy the territory since 1967. Hamas met recently with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in order to invite them to join the government; Rabah Muhana, a leader of PFLP declared that the answer to this proposal will most likely be an affirmative one.

Hamas has also in its agenda a meeting with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose faction was defeated by Hamas in the elections on January 25, in order to present him with their choice for prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh. Still, it is yet not likely that Hamas will succeed in gathering all militant groups into a government. Islamic Jihad, whose commander was killed by Israeli troops, will probably refuse the offer of joining them.

The Arab League is in doubt on whether it should spend $81.2million a month in order to keep the Palestinian Authority led by Hamas afloat; officials from 22 states from the Arab League are considering dipping into their national reserve in order to compensate for Israel's decision to freeze all tax transfers it receives from the Palestinian authority.

US are giving more and more signals to these states to stop payment since President Mahmoud Abbas asked Hamas to form a government. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that she is planning a visit in the territory, alongside the Secretary for the Near East, David Welch, in order to discuss the current situation.