Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei’ presented his new government to the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Palestinian parliament, on Monday afternoon to receive their vote of confidence.
Fatah officials convened until late Sunday night, debating the makeup of the new Palestinian government, and many were angered by the composition of the new government.
Fatah was formerly headed by the late Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat.
Fatah members were disturbed that the new government does not include any major changes. They said it does not fall in line with demands of the PLC and of the new Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas. They were protesting that too many ministers have held their portfolios for too long and they were expecting a fundamental shift as part of the reforms the Palestinian Authority is striving to incorporate.
They also want a narrower government instead of the current cabinet, comprised of 24 ministers.
In the new government, former representative to the U.N. Na’sir Al-Qidwa is the new minister of external relations instead of Nabil Sha’ath who will be deputy prime minister, Na’sr Yousuf is minister of interior and civil security, and security strongman Muhammad Dahlan will be a minister in the prime minister’s office.
Many other ministers retained their previous positions.