- Title: WEST BANK: RAFIQ AL-NATSHEH ELECTED AS NEW SPEAKER OF THE PALESTINIAN PARLIAMENT
- Date: 3rd November 2003
- Summary: (U4) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (NOVEMBER 3, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER AHMED QURIE ARRIVING AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (PLC) FOR VOTE ON NEW PLC SPEAKER 0.07 2. VARIOUS OF QURIE AND PALESTINIAN LEGISLATORS AT THE SESSION (2 SHOTS) 0.22 3. WIDE OF THE SESSION 0.28 4. VARIOUS: LEGISLATORS HANDING IN THEIR VOTES (3 SHOTS) 0.54 5. VARIOUS OF THE PLC SESSION (3 SHOTS) 1.11 6. ZOOM OUT/SCU/CU: QURIE GREETING MEMBERS OF THE PLC (3 SHOTS) 1.51 7. WIDE OF PLC SESSION 1.56 8. QURIE GREETING NEW PLC SPEAKER RAFIQ AL-NATSHEH 2.12 9. WIDE OF THE PLC SESSION 2.17 10. PALESTINIAN MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO SAEB EREKAT SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS 2.24 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO SAEB EREKAT, SAYING: "We have no objections what so ever to resume a meaningful peace process and meaningful negotiations that will lead to breaking this vicious cycle. We did not suspend the negotiations. It was Mr. Sharon who suspended the negotiations. We have been calling upon the government of Israel to come back to the negotiating table because the shortest way for security for all is a meaningful peace process through a negotiated settlement to end the Israeli occupation which began in 1967." 2.51 12. REPORTER'S HAND 2.55 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO SAEB EREKAT SAYING: "Legally speaking and by law I think we should see the formation of an expanded new cabinet with a programme to go to the Legislative Council for confidence in the next 48 hours or so."; EREKAT LEAVING 3.18 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th November 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVA9N1FIZVE4O7KSPLUTLI2BMUBC
- Story Text: The Palestinian parliament has voted on a new
speaker.
The Palestinian parliament elected a new speaker on
Monday (November 3) in a sign that caretaker prime minister
Ahmed Qurie is close to forming a new government.
The Palestinian Legislative Council elected Rafiq
al-Natsheh as the speaker, permanently replacing Qurie who
served as speaker from 1996 until early October when
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat appointed him as
temporary prime minister.
Qurie's caretaker government expires at midnight on
Tuesday (November 4) but senior Palestinian officials said
he was close to establishing a new government.
Although, senior Palestinian officials speaking
privately said there were some last minute hitches because
Arafat opposed the appointment of General Nasser Yousef to
the powerful post of Minister of Interior with authority
over the security forces.
The position is key to reining in militant groups and
paving the way towards the implementation of a U.S.-backed
peace plan to end three years of Israeli-Palestinian
violence.
The speaker is one of the most important positions in
the Palestinian Authority because by law the speaker would
become acting president if Arafat should die.
A recent bout of sickness sparked rumours that Arafat
was suffering from a fatal illness but his doctors say he
has gall-stones and may need a minor operation.
Before the parliamentary vote confirming Natsheh,
Minister Saeb Erekat said that the expected cabinet would
be announced within 48 hours.
"I think we should see the formation of an expanded new
cabinet with a program to go to the Legislative Council for
confidence in the next 48 hours or so," said Erekat.
Asked to respond to a comment by Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon that he was ready to renew negotiations but
was waiting for the Palestinian government to take shape,
Erekat said the Palestinians had never withdrawn the option
of peace talks between the warring sides.
"We have no objections whatsoever to resume a
meaningful peace process and meaningful negotiations that
will lead to breaking this vicious cycle. We did not
suspend the negotiations. It was Mr. Sharon who suspended
the negotiations. We have been calling upon the government
of Israel to come back to the negotiating table because the
shortest way for security for all is a meaningful peace
process through a negotiated settlement to end the Israeli
occupation which began in 1967," he said.
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