The West Bank ruling party, Fatah, has arrived at a consensus to appoint the prominent official Mohammad Shtayyeh as the future head of government, as the Palestinian Authority prepares to announce a new cabinet.
The new government will be known as the “PLO cabinet”. Its expected formation will put an end to the government of accord, headed by Rami al-Hamdallah since 2013, that was formed in consensus with Hamas.
“The central committee has agreed on Shtayyeh’s candidacy and will submit its recommendations to President Mahmoud Abbas for further processing,” a well-informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Shatayyeh’s assignment follows the dissolution of the government of national accord formed between the two main Palestinian parties, Fatah and Hamas. Reconciliation talks have failed to bring the two sides together and calls have been made to a form a new government that excludes Hamas.
“A second complementary meeting is supposed to be held on Sunday,” the Fatah source told Asharq Al-Awsat, stressing that a series of meetings would be held before an expanded leadership meeting, chaired by Abbas, to discuss and decide on a final government.
The president is expected to make a final decision on Shtayyeh and members of the government before the meeting.
If Shtayyeh accepts the hire, he will undertake forming a functional and inclusive government includes all factions of the Public Liberation Organization.
If Abbas rejects Shtayyeh’s nomination, which is rather unlikely, other candidates are available.
Shtayyeh served as minister of public works and housing, and minister of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction. He holds a doctorate in economic development from the University of Sussex in the UK. He worked as a professor and dean at Birzeit University and has published several books on economics, politics and history.
Abbas, according to Fatah officials, is determined hold a government reshuffle in preparation for parliamentary elections in after the dissolution of the Legislative Council.
According to these officials, Abbas has asked members of the Fatah Central Committee to contact members of other political factions and parties, such as the Democratic Alliance, the Palestinian National Initiative and others, to see if they would be part of the new government.
Hamas, for its part, rejected the decision to dissolve the Legislative Council.
