Mohammad Mustafa Named New Palestinian Prime Minister Amid US Reform Pressure
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday appointed his longtime economic adviser, Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, as the new prime minister.
Mustafa, chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund and a former deputy prime minister and ex-World Bank official, was involved in efforts to rebuild Gaza after the 2014 war, Operation Protective Edge.
A US-educated economist and a political independent, Mustafa, 69, is set to lead a technocratic government in the West Bank, potentially extending its administration to Gaza in anticipation of statehood. This decision comes amid US pressure on the PA for reforms, part of Washington’s vision for Gaza’s future after a cease-fire with Israel is reached. The appointment faces considerable challenges, including opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has persisted for over five months without resolution.
The 88-year-old Abbas will maintain overall control, raising questions about the sufficiency of this change to meet US reform demands. Mustafa’s appointment is seen as a respectable choice, yet doubts remain about his capacity to address the West Bank’s economic crisis, exacerbated by Israeli war-imposed restrictions.
Abbas has tasked Mustafa with developing plans to unify the West Bank and Gaza administrations, lead government, security, and economic reforms, and combat corruption. Mustafa’s formation of a cabinet, expected to comprise technocrats unaffiliated with Abbas’ Fatah party, marks a crucial step in this direction.
