A new Hamas government will not be ready until late March, Palestinian PM-designate Ismail Haniya has said.
Mr Haniya said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas had agreed to a two-week extension to an earlier three-week deadline for forming a cabinet.
The new deadline gives Hamas until 28 March - the same day as Israelis go to the polls to vote for a new government.
Mr Haniya said he had positive talks on Friday with Mr Abbas, whose Fatah party lost heavily to Hamas in January polls.
The incoming Palestinian PM said he had submitted a document to Mr Abbas outlining Hamas' vision of government.
‘God willing, it will be a vision that constitutes a common denominator and a platform for understanding’ between Hamas and Mr Abbas, he said.
Rival approaches
After meeting Mr Haniya, Mr Abbas confirmed he had been briefed on Hamas' efforts to form a new government - but gave no other details.
He said he had no objection to Mr Haniya using ‘the full allotment of time, namely five weeks’ to form a cabinet.
On 21 February, Mr Abbas formally gave Hamas a three-week deadline to form a new government.
Palestinian law allows that deadline to be extended by a further two weeks where necessary.
Hamas has said it wants to form a government of national unity with Fatah.
However, the two parties disagree on their approach to Israel, with Fatah insisting on negotiating a peace deal for the Palestinians while Hamas advocates an armed struggle.