Article

2006-09-14 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Fatah likely to get 4 portfolios, Hamas 7 in new cabinet

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party is likely to get four portfolios in the coming coalition government, while the ruling Hamas will get seven in addition to the post of prime minister, Ramattan news agency reported on Wednesday. Ramattan said the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Third Way would get two portfolios respectively. The Democratic Front would get one. Mohammed Dahlan, a prominent Fatah leader, negotiator and former minister, would be in charge of the new Ministry of Civil Affairs in the coalition, the report said. The civil affairs department now is part of the Interior Ministry. Its work includes daily coordination with Israel.

Ramattan added that the new coalition government would come into being in two weeks and still be headed by Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas. According to Ramattan, current Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar will hand over his post to Hanan Ashrawi, an independent lawmaker representing the Third Way bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). There were still disagreements on the interior portfolio, with Hamas nominating current minister Said Siam, who was strongly opposed by Fatah.

Posted by Fred 2006-09-14 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Yeah, but who gets Arafat's red folder?

Posted by DMFD 2006-09-14 00:24|| 2006-09-14 00:24|| Front Page Top

#2 Israel has an effective veto, in that they collect customs' duties for the Paleos under a formal agreement. They have been passing on some of these funds to al-Fatah, by default. I am unaware of any funds controlled by Israel, being passed on to Hamas.

Posted by Snease Shaiting3550 2006-09-14 01:16|| 2006-09-14 01:16|| Front Page Top

#3 No recognition of Israel, no US aid. Who cares what the makeup of their coalition is? No work-arounds, no rewording, no obscure references, just simple recognition of Israel or zero bucks. It's about time for Hamas to learn some real-world lessons. All of their propaganda, their "social works" and everything else they stand for had better come crashing down around their ears if they refuse to recognize Israel. This "blank spot on the map" male bovine fecal matter must end.

Posted by Zenster 2006-09-14 03:49|| 2006-09-14 03:49|| Front Page Top

#4 They don't need US aid unfortunately so long as the Europeans become willing to fund them again. Why can't Europe at least make the oil nations foot the bill?

Posted by Odysseus 2006-09-14 18:54|| 2006-09-14 18:54|| Front Page Top

#5 Why can't Europe at least make the oil nations foot the bill?

There's a lot of bills that should be laid at the oil nations' feet.

Posted by Zenster 2006-09-14 18:58|| 2006-09-14 18:58|| Front Page Top

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