Palestinian cabinet crisis ends with professional choice
The Palestinian parliament today approved a cabinet dominated by professional appointees, including nearly half with doctoral degrees, in a major move toward long-promised government reform.
The 54-12 vote, with four abstentions, ended days of wrangling between rebellious MPs and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, who initially sought to reappoint political cronies from the Arafat era.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas intervened in the dispute between parliament and his prime minister, and persuaded MPs from his Fatah Party to support a cabinet largely consisting of ministers chosen for their expertise, not political loyalty.
The crisis strengthened Abbas and weakened Qureia, who may not survive as prime minister beyond parliamentary elections in July, after which a new cabinet would be formed.
After Yasser Arafat’s death in November, Abbas and Qureia co-operated during a transition period, but relations have cooled since then.
Abbas won last month’s presidential elections in part on a promise to reform the government and the security services, and the new cabinet could help him in the job.
Virtually all the new ministers are experts in the field they are to oversee, including 10 with doctorates, a medical doctor, a lawyer, several engineers and several with master’s degrees.
“It’s a turning point in the rationale, the approach and the methodology of forming cabinets, in going beyond political patronage … and to look for people who can deliver,” said MP Hanan Ashrawi.
Among the key appointments are Nasser Yousef, a tough ex-general, as interior minister who would oversee security reform and try to rein in Palestinian militants. Arafat’s nephew Nasser Al-Kidwa, the former Palestinian representative to the UN, was chosen as foreign minister.
Salam Fayyad, the Palestinians’ widely respected finance minister for the last three years, will keep his job. Saeb Erekat will continue in his role as chief negotiator with Israel, but will lose his cabinet position.
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