In the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has formed an emergency Cabinet to replace the unity government which he dissolved last week after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas officials said they do not recognize the new government, which was installed without the approval of the democratically elected Hamas-led Palestinian Parliament. One Hamas official dismissed Abbas’ new Cabinet as an illegitimate lackey of Israel and the United States. Mahmoud Abbas selected Salam Fayyad as the new Palestinian prime minister. Fayyad is a U.S.-educated economist who previously worked for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.