ABBAS APPOINTS NEW PM

West Bank, 23 Rajab 1434/3 June 2013 (MINA) – The official Palestinian news agency says President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed a new prime minister, ending weeks of uncertainty following the resignation of the previous premier.

Abbas appointed academic Rami Hamdallah on Sunday evening (2/6). Hamdullah replaces Salam Fayyad, a respected U.S.-educated economist who was seen as being too independent and frequently clashed with Abbas, Palestinian agency WAFA reported, monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

Hamdullah is a member of the Fatah Party led by Abbas. He is now tasked with forming a new technocratic government, Ahram reported.

The media said the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.

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Hamdullah has no prior political or government experience. He is a British-educated English professor and dean of al-Najah University in the West Bank.

Fayyad had offered his resignation in a letter to Abbas following weeks of sparring over Fayyad’s handling of the government and an economic crisis afflicting the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Saturday (13/4), the official Palestinian news agency said.

Widely admired abroad, including in Israel, Fayyad, however, failed to build a strong political base within the Palestinian territories.(T/P03/P04)

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

 

 

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