Posted on 11/04/2003 12:04:38 PM PST by anotherview
Nov. 4, 2003
Inner power struggle delays announcement of PA cabinet
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An ongoing power struggle between Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei on Tuesday spoiled plans to announce a new PA cabinet.
Hours before the 30-day mandate of the emergency cabinet was due to expire on Tuesday midnight, Arafat summoned Qurei and asked him to remain at the head of a caretaker cabinet until the two resolve their dispute over the appointment of an interior minister responsible for the PA police and security forces.
"Arafat asked Ahmed Qurei to continue his job as the head of a caretaker government until the formation of a new government," Arafat spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told reporters in Ramallah.
The decision to extend the term of the cabinet came after Arafat reiterated his fierce opposition to the appointment of Qurei's choice, Gen. Nasser Youssef, as interior minister. Arafat, who fears that Youssef would try to undercut his powers by taking control over all the police and security forces, wants to give the post to one of his loyalists.
PA officials said Arafat's favorite candidates for the post include Hani al Hassan and Abdel Razak Yahya, two former interior ministers, as well as Hakam Balawi, a former ambassador to Tunis.
Hassan Abu Libdeh, director of Qurei's office, confirmed that the major obstacle to the formation of a new cabinet remains the identity of the interior minister.
"We cannot say that there is an agreement between the Prime Minister and the President about the person who would be in charge of the Interior Ministry,'' he said. ``Nasser Yousef is at the core of these discussions.''
Abbas Zaki, a key member of the Fatah Central Council, said efforts were underway to try to solve the crisis over the interior ministry, which is supposed to oversee the work of the PA police and security forces. "Undoubtedly, there is a serious crisis regarding the interior ministry," he said. "It's a real problem, but we are making efforts to find a solution."
Another Fatah official described the Arafat-Qurei row as "ridiculous and harmful." He said the Palestinians were fed up with the power struggle and recurring crises that have hit the Palestinian Authority over the past few months. "They are continuing to fight over positions and powers while Israel is building the [security] fence and confiscating land," he added.
Earlier in the day, Qurei convened his eight-member cabinet in Ramallah for what was supposed to be its last meeting before he announces a new line-up. After the meeting, Qurei announced that he would present a broad-based cabinet to the Palestinian Legislative Council for approval only next week.
"I will ask the [Palestinian] Legislative Council to hold a meeting, the date of which will be decided on today or tomorrow, to have a confidence debate in the new government," Qurei said.
"I think that this meeting will take place next week," he added.
Meanwhile, Qurei reaffirmed his readiness to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss ways of resuming peace talks with Israel. Qurei said he was interested in such a meeting only if it were "effective" and would help in breaking the current stalemate. "We don't want a meeting for the sake of photo-ups, but a meeting with results," he added.
Cabinet member Saeb Erekat also welcomed reports about an imminent meeting between Sharon and Qurei and said the Palestinians want to see the peace process back on track. "There are Israeli-Palestinian contacts on various levels regarding the day-today affairs of the Palestinians," he added. "The real negotiations [with Israel] would begin with a meeting between Qurei and Sharon after the formation of the new Palestinian cabinet."
A senior PA official confirmed that Jibril Rajoub, Arafat's advisor on national security, met on Sunday with Shin Bet chief Avi Dechter. He said Arafat authorized the meeting, but refused to elaborate on the issues tackled during the meeting.
Rajoub left for Britain on Monday night for two weeks of medical treatment. Rajoub, who has cancer, has been receiving medical treatment in London and Jordan for the past two years.
Caption: I thought Yasser was going to give me some power. I'm laughing at my own stupidity for thinking that.
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