Palestinian unity government names leaked, at least nine new members

Seventeen members of the new Palestinian unity government to be announced Monday have been named by well-informed political sources according to the Ma´an News Agency. They include at least nine new members, while at least eight will remain at their posts from the prior government. 

Rami Hamdallah will remain prime minister, according to the sources, and Ziad Abu Amr will be the deputy prime minister and minister of culture. 

New members include Mamoun Abu Shahla as minister of labor, Mufeed Hasayneh as minister of public works and housing, and Yusef Idees as minister of endowments and religious affairs.Nayef Khalaf will be minister of local governance and Riyad Al Maliki will remain the minister of foreign affairs.Salim Al Saqqa has been named minister of justice, Khawla Al Shakhsheer as minister of education and higher education, and Rula Maaya as minister of tourism. Allam Moussa will be minister of telecommunication, Shawqu Al Aiysa will be minister of agriculture, and Wael Dweikat will be minister of transportation. Muhammad Mustafa will remain as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, and Shukri Bishara will stay on as minister of finance. Furthermore, Jawad Awwad will stay as minister of health, and Adnan Al Husseini is expected to remain minister of Jerusalem affairs.

The unity government will be sworn in on Monday at 1 p.m. in the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, a PLO executive committee member said earlier. Wasel Abu Yusef told Ma’an that the president’s office sent invitations to PLO executive committee members and ministers to attend the ceremony.

Abu Yusef added that the obstacles that faced the unity government were overcome, as Hamas agreed that Al Malki would stay on as foreign minister, and the issue on the ministry of detainees was resolved.