7 May 2011 - 19:30

Palestinian youth in the Gaza Strip say they will form a "shadow cabinet" once the transitional government has been formed.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The group is consulting with youth organizations in Gaza and the West Bank to form the cabinet, which it says will mirror the cabinet in the technocratic government currently being formed.

Muhammad Hasna, who helped initiate the project, said Palestine expected his generation to bring its cause to the forefront.

Hasna said each young cabinet member would have a portfolio, and would be expected to exert pressure on the government to serve the Palestinian people and their homeland.

He urged the new government to focus on education and resources to advance the Palestinian state.

Under the reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo last week, Palestinian factions agreed to form an interim government ahead of elections.

The Cairo agreement reconciled Hamas and Fatah after years of hostility and reunited Gaza and the West Bank, which had been under separate governments since 2007.

The unity deal was reached following mass protests, sit-ins and hunger strikes launched by Palestinian youth on March 15.

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