Posted on 09/08/2003 9:08:33 PM PDT by anotherview
Sep. 8, 2003
Qurei accepts role of PM
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH AND THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF
Palestinian official Ahmed Qurei (AP)
Ahmed Qurei accepted the role of Palestinian prime minister on Monday night, following his formal appointment by PA Chairman Arafat during a meeting of Fatah central council. Qurei is expected to begin forming the new Palestinian government within the next few hours, completing it in a number of days.
The decision to appoint Qurei, former Palestinian parliament speaker as prime minister, still has to be approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council, which is expected to convene in the coming days.
(Click here to read a profile of Qurei.)
Earlier, after a meeting with Arafat in the Mukata, Qurei told reporters that "it would be pointless to form a new government if Israel doesn't change its policy toward the Palestinians."
Qurei repeated his request of Washington and the Europeans to guarantee Israeli compliance with a US-backed peace plan, including "a halt to military strikes and a change of policy toward Arafat."
Qurei added that there are no differences of opinions between himself and Arafat. "I want to see that the Israelis will change the way of dealing with Yasser Arafat, the elected president, because I cannot go without his support," he said.
Once he accepts the job officially, Qurei is expected to begin a series of consultations in an effort to establish a new cabinet that would still require the approval of the PLC.
Earlier on Monday, Qurei met with Arafat in the latter's office in Ramallah. The two discussed the formation of the new cabinet and agreed that Qurei would start discussions with senior Fatah and PLO officials on the possibility of including some of them in his cabinet.
After the meeting, Qurei said he wants real support from the international community, "practical, not by words. I don't want to see more military checkpoints. I don't want to see assassination of Palestinians. I don't want to see the demolishing of houses."
He said he would try to negotiate a cease-fire with Israel. "I want to see a real cease-fire from both sides with enough commitment to stop all kinds of killing of the Palestinians or killing of the Israelis," Qurei said. "We also need the support of the Israelis, the support of the Americans, and the support of President Arafat," he told The Associated Press.
Asked whether he would only accept the post if his demands were met, he said: "Yes, these are my conditions from all the parties who are concerned about the peace process."
According to reliable sources in Ramallah, Qurei also wants guarantees from Arafat that he would have a free hand in negotiations with Israel and control over the Palestinian security forces. One source said Qurei does not want to undergo the same experience as his predecessor, Mahmoud Abbas, who spent most of his time fighting with Arafat over his powers.
The new cabinet, according to some sources, will consist of many new faces. Minister of Security Muhammad Dahlan, who has sided with Abbas in his conflict with Arafat, is expected to lose his job, the sources added. Dahlan himself has indicated that he has no intention to serve in a cabinet headed by someone else other than Abbas.
The all-important Interior Ministry portfolio in charge of the Palestinian security forces is expected to be given to Arafat loyalist Gen. Nasser Youssef, a former security chief who also has close ties with Qurei.
Another Arafat loyalist who is expected to play a major role in the new cabinet is Jibril Rajoub, who was recently appointed by Arafat as his adviser on national security affairs. Rajoub, who has also been promoted to the rank of general, would be entrusted with the task of revamping the Palestinian security forces together with Youssef.
The PLO executive committee, which met in Ramallah on Monday, issued a statement saying that the resignation of the Abbas cabinet was a direct result of the failure to implement the road map. The committee said the road map was on hold because of Israel's construction of the security fence in the West Bank, the policy of building more settlements, the continued arrests of Palestinians, and the assassination of Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists.
"The success of the new cabinet requires an international and regional role that is different from the one adopted during the previous cabinet," said the PLO statement, calling for an end to the siege on Arafat's compound in Ramallah.
PLO executive committee member Abbas Zaki said Qurei now has three weeks to form a new cabinet. "If he doesn't meet the deadline, he is entitled to ask for an additional two weeks," he said. He did not rule out the possibility that some of the outgoing ministers would continue to serve in the new cabinet.
At least three ministers are expected to retain their jobs: Finance Minister Salam Fayad, Education Minister Naim Abu al-Humos, and Planning Minister Nabil Kassis.
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