- Title: WEST BANK: New Palestinian PM convenes first cabinet meeting
- Date: 11th June 2013
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JUNE 11, 2013) (REUTERS) MINISTER ENTERING BUILDING SIGN READING: 'COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MINISTER ENTERING BUILDING MOTORCADE WITH PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER RAMI HAMDALLAH ARRIVING / HAMDALLAH GETTING OUT OF CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER RAMI HAMDALLAH, SAYING: "Good morning first of all. There are many topics which we will discuss this morning. No doubt the economic issue is the main topic to which we will be giving priority this morning. We will speak about the economic issue in detail. We will set work plans for ministers for the next 50-100 days. We will discuss all topics that are of interest to the nation and its residents." HAMDALLAH ENTERING BUILDING SIGN AT ENTRANCE OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS VARIOUS OF HAMDALLAH AND MINISTERS AROUND TABLE FOR FIRST CABINET MEETING
- Embargoed: 26th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3SSKI8FTFIZKZVIE3DATAYJHE
- Story Text: New Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said on Tuesday (June 11) economic issues and establishing a roadmap for the first 50-100 days of his government will top the agenda of his first cabinet meeting.
"We will speak about the economic issue in detail. We will set work plans for ministers for the next 50-100 days. We will discuss all topics that are of interest to the nation and its residents," Hamdallah said as he arrived for the meeting in Ramallah.
Hamdallah and his West Bank-based government were sworn in on Thursday (June 6).
One of their main challenges will be reaching a power-sharing deal with the Islamist Hamas movement ruling Gaza. 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 in May to work towards forming a unity government by August. But political differences, including over how to handle the long-standing conflict with Israel, have delayed any joint administration.
Hamdallah, a political independent and linguistics professor, was named by Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas to replace Salam Fayyad, who quit in April but remained in his post while a successor was sought.
Fayyad, a former World Bank official credited with building Palestinian institutions needed to gain independence from Israel, resigned over an economic crisis caused by cuts in Western funds and temporary Israeli freezes on money transfers imposed over unilateral Palestinian moves on statehood.
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. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
