- Title: WEST BANK: Abbas swears in new Palestinian cabinet
- Date: 6th June 2013
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JUNE 6, 2013) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT COMPOUND NEW PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER RAMI HAMDALLAH WAVING AT REPORTERS PALESTINIAN FLAG PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS AT SWEARING IN CEREMONY HAMDALLAH AND MINISTERS STANDING VARIOUS OF HAMDALLAH BEING SWORN IN HAMDALLAH AND ABBAS SHAKING HANDS VARIOUS OF CABINET MINISTERS BEING SWORN IN CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR SAEB EREKAT STANDING NEXT TO OTHER OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF SWEARING IN CEREMONY PALESTINIAN FLAG MINISTER, ABBAS AND HAMDALLAH POSING FOR GROUP PHOTO POSTER OF ABBAS AND LATE PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT ABBAS CONVENING CABINET MEETING MINISTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS SAYING: "This government will work hard in the time available to it, whether it be weeks, months or however long it takes. When someone is in a position of responsibility, he should carry out that responsibility." CABINET MEETING
- Embargoed: 21st June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA144YENSZG645LLAP17DKLC2GS
- Story Text: Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and his West Bank-based government were sworn in on Thursday (June 6, 2013) and one of their main challenges will be reaching a power-sharing deal with the Islamist Hamas movement ruling Gaza.
Hamdallah, a linguistics professor and a political independent, was named on Sunday (June 2) by Western-backed Abbas to replace Salam Fayyad, who quit in April but remained in his post while a successor was sought.
"This government will work hard in the time available to it, whether it be weeks, months or however long it takes. When someone is in a position of responsibility, he should carry out that responsibility," Abbas said as he chaired the cabinet's first meeting.
Hamas has called Hamdallah's appointment illegal and said Abbas should have focused instead on ending the internal Palestinian divide.
Leaders of Abbas's mainstream Fatah movement and Hamas officials agreed last month to work towards forming a unity government in August. But political differences, including how to handle the long-standing conflict with Israel, have delayed any joint administration.
Hamas, which won the Palestinian parliamentary election in 2006, wrested control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah in a brief civil war in 2007 and rejects any recognition of Israel.
As prime minister, Hamdallah is expected to focus on a domestic agenda, particularly the Palestinian economy. He will have two deputies, political science professor Zeyad Abu Amr, and Mohammed Mustafa, who heads the Palestine Investment Fund.
Shukri Bishara, a well-known, Western-educated Palestinian finance and banking expert, will serve as finance minister. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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