Secretary-General of Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC) Majed Fityani said that the new Palestinian government will be formed once Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas returns from the African Union (AU) summit.
Fityani added that the FRC advised Abbas to assign a member of Fatah Central Committee to form the government.
“It is time that Fatah leads the government, and we will have a say in this,” he continued.
He did not name possible candidates, saying this was Abbas’ responsibility.
A committee from the Fatah Central Committee had concluded consultations with Palestine Liberation Organization factions and independents in order to form a government.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that discussions with the factions brought no “surprises”
“Fatah officials knew that both fronts will not participate because of ongoing disputes over holding the Palestinian National Council (PNC) and the Palestinian Central Council (PCC) and relations with Hamas,” they said.
Fatah is moving ahead with forming the government with whatever factions are present, asserted the sources.
Fatah, PLO factions and independents will form the government before the end of the month should no surprises arise, they added.
The most difficult consultations will begin after the appointment of a prime minister, they said.
The Fatah Central Committee had proposed one of its members, Mohammad Shtayyeh, for the post. He is a member of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR) and a former negotiator.
Other candidates are minister for civilian affairs Hussein al-Sheikh and PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat.
PM Rami Hamdallah’s government resigned in January. Abbas accepted the resignation and assigned the cabinet to a caretaking role until a new government is formed.
