Following the signing of the Mecca Agreement last week, yesterday the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority (PA) submitted its resignation to PA President Mahmoud Abbas. President Abbas accepted the government's resignation and has asked Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas) to form a new "national unity" government. The new government will consist of 24 Ministers - the greatest number since the formation of the PA - and will include individuals from all six political parties represented in the Palestinian Legislative Council. The breakdown of Ministries is:

• Hamas: 9 Ministries will be headed by Hamas representatives
• Fatah: 6 Ministries will be headed by Fatah representatives
  
• Other political parties: 4 Ministries will be headed by representatives of the four remaining political parties
• Independents: 5 Ministries will be headed by independents:
  • 2 will be nominated by the Hamas party, with Fatah granting its approval of the nominee.
  • 2 will be nominated by the Fatah party, with Hamas granting its approval of the nominee.
  • The Minister of the Interior will be nominated by Hamas with President Abbas (not Fatah) granting his approval of the nominee.

Ministerial Breakdown:

The Ministries have been agreed to by the parties, as have some of the Ministers. Where ministers have been selected, they are noted below. The breakdown is:

• Hamas representatives will head the following Ministries:
• Education
• Economy
• Telecommunications
• Awqaf (Religious Endowments)
• Social Affairs
• Youth and Sport
• Tourism
• Local Government
• Refugee Affairs


• Fatah representatives will assume the post of Deputy Prime Minister and will head the following Ministries:
• Health
• Transportation
• Agriculture
• Prisoner Affairs
• Housing
• Public Works

• Other Political Parties will head the following Ministries:
• Finance - Salam Fayyad, Minister, representing The Third Way
• Information - Mustafa Barghouti, Minister, representing Independent Palestine
• Women's Affairs - Khalida Jarrar, Minister, representing the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
• Without portfolio - Badil


• Independent representatives will head the following Ministries:
• Interior - Hamas nomination requiring Presidential approval
• Foreign Affairs - Ziad Abu Amr, Minister. Hamas appointment; Fatah has already approved.
• Without Portfolio - Hamas nomination requiring Fatah approval
• Without Portfolio - Fatah nomination requiring Hamas approval
• Without Portfolio - Fatah nomination requiring Hamas approval

Next Steps:

1. According to Article 66 the Palestinian Basic Law (the pseudo constitution), the appointed Prime Minister has three weeks to form a Cabinet. He can be granted an automatic two week extension if he cannot form the Cabinet within three weeks.


2. According to Article 67 of the Palestinian Basic Law, the entire Cabinet has to receive a simple majority approval by the Palestinian Legislative Council once it has been formed.