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:
- 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.
- 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.
