Posted on 04/13/2003 12:17:01 PM PDT by Piranha
Fatah Central Committee to meet on Abu Mazen's cabinet list
By Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat rejected on Sunday a reformist cabinet proposed by incoming Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), sources close to Arafat said.
Arafat's opposition to the ministerial list was likely to disappoint Washington, which has said the release of a long-awaited peace "road map" leading to the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005 must await the installation of an Abbas-led cabinet.
In a step that apparently angered Arafat, Abbas decided to name himself interior minister, taking over a powerful portfolio overseeing security forces that are supposed to crack down on Palestinian militants under the U.S.-backed peace proposal. (Click here for Abu Mazen's proposed cabinet.)
There had been signs of differences over the issue between Arafat and Abbas, underscored by reports the president wanted to place one of his confidants in the interior post in a bid to weaken the prime minister's powers.
"Arafat will not allow this to pass," one of the sources said about the cabinet roster that Abbas presented earlier in the day.
There was no immediate comment from Abu Mazen, who has largely refrained from speaking to the media since being tapped last month to become prime minister at the urging of international peace brokers who soured on Arafat.
A Fatah Central Committee meeting Sunday evening in the West Bank city of Ramallah exploded over the cabinet list. Arafat, who attended the meeting, is demanding changes to the appointments.
Had the list been approved, it would have marked a political victory for Abu Mazen, who attempted to exclude Arafat's supporters, a great many of whom have been strongly critical of the new prime minister, from the list altogether or to push them into minor roles.
Abu Mazen was attempting to keep the crucial and disputed position of security chief for himself, and has appointed several reformers and independents to other key jobs, senior officials said Sunday.
The appointments require the approval of Fatah, which is headed by Arafat, and the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Sharon spokesman: Cabinet list could be a 'positive' move Prior to Arafat's rejection of the appointments, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the cabinet list could be a "positive" move.
"If it will be a real functioning government where Arafat is no longer the authority over the disbursement of funds and financial resources and no longer gives orders to the security forces, I think that will be a positive development," Ra'anan Gissin said.
The two votes could be held in the coming days. U.S. President George W. Bush has said that once the new cabinet is installed, he will formally unveil an internationally-backed "road map" to Middle East peace, a step that would start the clock ticking on the three-year plan to establish Palestinian statehood.
In his cabinet list - whose makeup was confirmed by three senior officials speaking on condition of anonymity - Abbas kept the post of interior minister for himself. That means he will have overall control over the security forces which are expected to round up Palestinian militants and try to prevent attacks on Israelis in the first phase of the U.S.-backed peace plan.
Abbas also appointed former Gaza security chief Mohammed Dahlan as minister of state for interior affairs. It was not clear how responsibilities would be divided between Abbas and Dahlan in the area of security. Both have criticized attacks on Israelis, however, and enjoy the support of the international community. Dahlan has said he is confident he can restore order in the Palestinian areas.
The appointment of Dahlan could prove problematic since the Fatah movement, of which Abbas is a senior member, wants to retain the current interior minister, Hani al-Hassan. The Fatah Central Committee was to meet later this week to vote on the Cabinet list.
Only one minister from the outgoing Cabinet remains in the same post - Salam Fayyad, the finance minister, a former senior International Monetary Fund official who is widely seen as having done a credible job in putting the murky Palestinian money transactions, including some of Arafat's reputed slush funds, in order.
Abbas also created the new posts of external affairs and deputy prime minister.
Abbas' deputy as prime minister will be Nasser Yousef, a former senior security official and a moderate who has met with leading Israelis at his own initiative in the past.
Nabil Sha'ath, the outgoing planning minister, was given the external affairs portfolio. Sha'ath has extensive contacts with foreign leaders and for years has acted as the Palestinians' de facto foreign minister. Interim peace agreements had prevented the Palestinians from formally creating a foreign ministry.
Several outspoken reformers were also chosen for cabinet posts, including Nabil Amr, who resigned from a previous Cabinet because of disagreements with Arafat and will now serve as information minister. Independent legislator Ziad Abu Amr was given the culture portfolio.
Abbas also appointed several professionals: Abdel Karim Abu Salah, a lawyer, was given the justice portfolio, businessman Azzam Shawa was appointed trade and industry minister and physician Kamal Shrafi was given the health ministry.
Two senior officials in the outgoing Cabinet, Local Affairs Minister Saeb Erekat and Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, were given the lesser posts of ministers of state.
The deadline to form the new government is April 24.
The three-phase U.S.-backed plan for Palestinian statehood calls for the eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank and Gaza. But first, a new credible Palestinian government must be formed under Abu Mazen.
Arafat and Abu Mazen have clashed over the choice of interior minister, information minister and welfare minister, said senior Palestinian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A Quartet of Middle East negotiators, which includes the United States, Europe, Russia and the United Nations, has pressured Abu Mazen to hurry the process, emphasizing that delays would hold up plans to formally unveil the long-awaited "road map" to Palestinian statehood.
Under intense international and domestic pressure, Arafat reluctantly agreed to share power and create the position of prime minister. Another key international demand was financial reforms in the Palestinian Authority.
On Saturday, Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayad said salaries were being paid directly to security personnel in Gaza. Before the reform process, money was allotted to the security ministry, which then doled out payments.
Waves of Hamas killers vaporize a few busloads of Israeli innocents, making any discussion of "peace" a moot one.
The sequence has become as trite as Tom Daschle's "concern". Will a "roadmap" make any difference?
Including the assignments of suicide bombers.
For the sake of the Arabs living in Israel's liberated territories (known as "Palestinians").
Yep -- THIS is the most logical and constructive thing can be done for the region...
Arafat is nothing but an abscess. He must be made redundant permanently.
The Road From Baghdad goes through Syria.
Right. This is a great example of how the Holy Land gets too much press scrutiny. The differences between Abbas and Arafat are too subtle for people outside to worry much about. For example, Abbas kept on the same education minister who has been so successful at teaching the teenagers to hate Israel to the death.
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