Gaza Strip ? Hamas presented a pragmatic former university administrator as its choice for Palestinian prime minister Monday and the Islamic militant group reached out to Fatah and other factions to join a broad-based Cabinet that might stand a chance of gaining international approval.

Officials said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas would give Ismail Haniyeh his formal letter of appointment today, a step toward installing the first government to be headed by Hamas, which swept parliamentary elections last month.

Haniyeh, 43, told reporters after meeting with Abbas that he would try to form a joint government with Fatah, the traditional Palestinian ruling party that Hamas trounced in the election, “that can shoulder its responsibilities in the political area and internal issues.” So far, Fatah has refused to join.

Hamas, which calls for the destruction of Israel and is responsible for dozens of suicide bombings, is trying to persuade other Palestinian factions to join a coalition, hoping to persuade the world that the new Cabinet represents all the Palestinians and should not be the target of a boycott.