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| Middle East |
| Palestinians reorganize cabinet |
| 2002-06-09 |
| Chairman-for-Life Yasser Arafat (1929-2002?)'s Palestinian Authority announced a sweeping reorganization of its cabinet aimed at silencing criticism at home and abroad that it was corrupt and inefficient. The moves to restore international confidence in the Palestinian leadership came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in the United States trying again to dump Arafat as a player in the peace process. So it's timed to upstage Sharon. So is it going to change from a general staff of sorts to a government? The reorganization cuts the number of cabinet posts from 31 to 21. "This transitional government will have the task of preparing the municipal, legislative and presidential elections, slated for the end of 2002 and the start of 2003," information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo told a news conference. But there was no sign the 72-year-old Arafat was ready to step down as head of the PA. Saeb Erakat, chief Palestinian negotiator who retained his post as minister of local affairs, brushed off speculation Arafat could be given a purely ceremonial job. "That's not being discussed," he told CNN. It's not healthy to discuss such things... Among the new offices to be created was the ministry of interior, at the head of which will be General Abdel Razak al-Yahiya, a former negotiator with Israel, who will spearhead the reform of the Palestinian Authority's many police and intelligence services. He is stepping in for Arafat who has held the portfolio since the Authority's establishment in 1994. He will head a slimmed-down security apparatus, merging the dozen different police and intelligence services whose powers conflict and whose chiefs are in constant rivalry. As well as making them more effective, he will have to respond to criticism by Israel and the United States that some of their elements were deeply involved in anti-Israeli attacks. The guy's 73 years old. It'd be a pretty good guess that he's expected to be a figurehead... The post of finance minister will be filled by Salam Fayad, West Bank head of the Arab Bank and the former representative of the International Monetary Fund in the Palestinian territories. He will be tasked with weeding out corruption and installing transparency in the PA. That one's no surprise... In addition to Erakat and Abed Rabbo, the other major players to stay in the Palestinian government include Nabil Shaath (international cooperation) and Maher Masri (economy, trade and industry). Looks like there was something to the prediction of the rise of the Gaza Gang of Five... Arafat pledged on May 15 to undertake a radical shake-up of the PA, and called on the Palestinian parliament to prepare for elections. Parliament speaker Ahmed Qorei said later local elections would take place before the end of this year and legislative elections in 2003. "The objective of this new government will be to render the different ministries more active and to reconstruct what the Israeli occupation has destroyed and to prepare for elections," Abed Rabbo said. He said the first meeting of the new cabinet would be held on Monday and from now on only ministers would attend. Previously, members of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization sat in on the meetings. Cheeze, I hope Yasser doesn't pull a rod on anybody. That's always so embarrassing... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |