Palestinian President Yasser Arafat affirmed to Reuters that the announcement of the new Palestinian government would be as soon as
possible. Palestinian sources close to the President said President Arafat might declare the new government today in light of the feeling of
some ministers that the consultations were concluded and the portfolios were defined. A senior Palestinian official who preferred to remain
anonymous said Arafat agreed to change the ministers of Interior, Justice, and Health and might make changes on two other ministries. Nabil
Abu Rdeineh, President Arafat's adviser, said the priorities on the agenda of the new government are: working on ending the Israeli occupation,
preparing for elections and continue with the reform on the condition that this will be conducted with the support of the Quartet Committee
through preparing the proper atmosphere for the process of reform and elections through exerting pressure on the Israeli government to
withdraw. President Arafat continued yesterday his intensive consultations with the PLO factions and with political forces and figures in order
to form a new national coalition government. President Arafat met yesterday with delegations from the Popular Struggle Front headed by Dr.
Samir Ghosheh and FIDA headed by Saleh Ra'fat. Nabil Abu Rdeineh said the President might declare the government today although he has
plenty of time till November 5, 2002. The DFLP said it would not join the new government. FIDA Party renewed its clinging to Yasser Abed
Rabbo as its representative in the government although Abed Rabbo said he has no desire to join the government for personal reasons.
Al-Hayat al-Jadida newspaper got to know that General Secretary of the Popular Struggle Front Dr. Samir Ghosheh accepted a portfolio offered
to him in the new government.
Published in Al Hayat al-Jadida newspaper - Oct. 20, 2002.
Arafat to announce a new government at the end of this week
Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath announced yesterday that President Yasser Arafat would announce the formation of the new government at the end of this week. At a press conference after his meeting with Javier Solana, Shaath said the consultations that President Arafat has conducted were very successful and detailed and included several topics, stressing that the new government will enjoy Palestinian consensus. Shaath who is currently in a tour in European capitals said: I believe that President Arafat will form a government that will gain the support of the Palestinian people and might open a window of hope on a better future. On his part, Solana stressed on the importance that President Arafat forms his government quickly which will be a sign on his good intentions. Solana said the situation in the Middle East is still tragic, expressing hope that the meeting of Quartet Committee on Thursday evening in Paris will lead to the resumption of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. He said: We have many papers and documents but what we need is not more documents but plans that cannot be implemented on the ground. Shaath responded by saying: I hope that the Quartet Committee meeting in Paris will lead to setting up a plan with results on the ground.
Published in Al Hayat al-Jadida newspaper - Oct. 16, 2002.
Arafat continues with his consultations to form the government
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat continued yesterday his consultations with the PLC members to form a new government. President Arafat held a meeting yesterday with PLC Speaker Ahmad Qrei' and the Fatah bloc in the PLC. Ibrahim Abul Naja, the first deputy of the PLC Speaker, said President Arafat affirmed to them that the new Cabinet will be presented in front of the PLC, denying the reports that talked about the possibility of forming an emergency government that can exempt him from presenting the government to the PLC. Abul Naja pointed out that President Arafat intends to end his consultations as soon as possible so that he can announce the ministry within the next few days. Abul Naja statement was confirmed by sources of al-Hayat al-Jadida newspaper which said that the hinting about an emergency government is part of the democratic game and that was only to send a message to the Fatah bloc in the PLC. Sources in al-Hayat al-Jadida revealed that the Minister of Social Affairs Intisar al-Wazeer submitted a request to President Arafat asking him to exempt her from any ministerial position in the next government so that new qualified people can take their chance to serve the people. She also appealed to President Arafat to expand the participation of women in the new government. The same sources believe that President Arafat will not accept her request. Meanwhile, reports talk about the possibility of appointing PLC member Hanan Ashrawi in a ministerial position in the area of foreign affairs or the ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. Sources in al-Hayat al-Jadida denied reports by news agencies that President Arafat intends to appoint Hanna Naser in a ministerial position, stressing that the constitution bans appointing Naser since he will be the head of the Central Elections Committee. On the issue of Hani Al-Hasan and the possibility of appointing him in place of the current Interior Minister, the sources said that the issue was posed by some members of Fatah in the PLC. The consultations also discussed the issue of discharging four ministers: Jamil Tarifi, Nabil Shaath, Yasser Abed Rabbo and Saeb Erekat, since those four ministers will be busy in the negotiations with the Israeli side and in contacts with the Quartet Committee.
Published in Al Hayat al-Jadida newspaper - Oct. 14, 2002.
