Palestinian Prime Minister designate Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, has announced he has finished setting up his new cabinet.
Following a meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Wednesday, Abu Ala said the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) would soon be invited to take part in a meeting with his new government.
According to him, the new cabinet will be able to care for all the needs of the Palestinian public, at this point in time.
Meanwhile, a Fatah official downplayed the significance of the dispute that has erupted between the movement’s bloc at the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Palestinian Prime Minister designate, Abu Ala.
Palestinian sources told Al Bawaba that Yasser Arafat will be leaning to accept an emergency government, particularly after Abu Ala’s efforts in forming a broad base cabinet have lingered due to pressure by Fatah representatives on the council.
A reliable Palestinian source told Al Bawaba, "Arafat has agreed to a proposal by Qurei to form an emergency cabinet comprising of 12 ministers, instead of a broad based government."
"The Prime Minister designate was spurred to fall back on this proposal after facing two obstacles. The first was a demand by Fatah legislators to include young members from the movement in the new cabinet...the second was his [Abu Ala’s] failure to convince the Palestinian factions to participate in the government by accepting the portfolios offered to them," the source said.
For its part, Fatah is hoping to introduce ‘new blood’ in the incoming Palestinian government, in an attempt to sideline the ‘old faces’ that came with the Palestinian Authority and have maintained their positions to this day.
The younger figures which Fatah had proposed to Abu Ala for the new cabinet include PLC member representing Jerusalem - Hatem Abdel Qader - Ramallah legislator - Qaddoura Fares - and Nablus legislator - Dalal Salameh.
Salameh had confirmed to Al Bawaba that she was in fact nominated by Fatah while downplaying the significance of the dispute between Fatah legislators and Abu Ala.
"Abu Ala is seeking to secure a cabinet consistent with the make-up of the Palestinian society so he can obtain the necessary confidence vote for his incoming government," said Salameh, adding "Fatah wants to have younger ministers from the movement in the new cabinet."
Salameh also suggested that the leaked information regarding the names of the nominated ministers from Fatah’s Central Committee was not in any way final. (Albawaba.com)
