Shtayyeh resignation lines up technocratic government
Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh submitted his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday, paving the way for a cabinet reshuffle that is expected to lead to reforms.
The new government is expected to be a technocratic one, with Mr Abbas still at the helm. Secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation Hussein Al Sheikh is also expected to remain part of the new government, Tahani Mustafa, senior analyst at the Crisis Group, told The National.
Ms Mustafa has been in contact with Palestinian officials in the Palestinian Authority and ministries in the occupied West Bank.
“The goal of change is to present a new government that is internationally acceptable,” a Palestinian official told The National.
“A government that enjoys some credibility and is capable of implementing many international requirements, including financial control and auditing, in addition to being technocratic.”
A source said the main candidate to lead the government is Mohammad Mustafa, “an expert linked to the world of investment”.
Mr Mustafa has been a senior adviser to Mr Abbas on economic affairs since 2005.
He has also served as deputy prime minister of the Palestinian Authority and minister of economy.
He served as chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund and is the founding chief executive of telecoms provider PalTel.
A source said the next stage may feature plans for reconstruction in Gaza, a new authority and the possibility of international recognition of the idea of a Palestinian state.
The US administration hoped that Mr Abbas would agree to reform the government to allow it to administer the West Bank as well as Gaza after the war ends, as part of an effort towards the twostate solution.
Ms Tahani said the Palestinian Authority had been reluctant to back any day-after proposals during the first three months of the war, fearing they would appear to be giving in to Israeli force.
However, she added, this stance has changed.
“Since mid-December, you’ve seen the Palestinian Authority put out statements that effectively say they would back anything that guarantees their survival.”
The new government will not include members of Hamas, Ms Mustafa said, and is in line with a US plan for the “day after” in Gaza.
“They’ve been talking about it in technocratic, securitised terms, which means you’re not going to have an election, or democratically reformed Palestinian Authority.”