( CNN ) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has submitted his letter of resignation , the prime minister 's office told CNN on Saturday . Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad 's resignation may smooth the way for a unity government . Considered a political independent , Fayyad was appointed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in June 2007 to be prime minister . Fayyad 's decision may help smooth the way for a Palestinian unity government that would be acceptable to both Hamas and Fatah , the region 's two main political parties , as well as the international community . Officials have argued a neutral government would be crucial to getting aid into Gaza to help with reconstruction and humanitarian relief . Palestinians unsuccessfully tried their hand at a unity government in the spring of 2007 , with the mediation of Saudi Arabia . The experiment ended in June of that year with Hamas taking over Gaza , leaving Fatah in charge in the West Bank . Fayyad , a well-regarded international economist , was finance minister during the short-lived unity government in 2007 . CNN 's Ben Wedeman contributed to this report .
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Abbas steps down . Fayyad 's resignation is expected to make way for unity government . Fayyad was appointed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in protest .