Palestinian legislators approve new cabinet for Abbas
'''[[Wikinews:2005/February/24|February 24]], [[Wikinews:2005|2005]]''' 

Legislators in [[w:Ramallah|Ramallah]] have accepted a cabinet with few returning staff after twice rejecting Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia's more staid proposals.
[[Image:Flag of Palestine.svg|thumb|200px|[[w:Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian]] flag]]
"We have agreed in principle with Abu Mazen (Abbas) to let this crisis pass," Fatah MP Mohammed Horani said.

Members of the dominant [[w:Fatah|Fatah]] party rejected two earlier line ups, before accepting the third late Wednesday after a further meeting with President [[w:Mahmoud Abbas|Mahmoud Abbas]]. Fatah controls 63 of the 85 seats in the [[w:Palestinian Legislative Council|Palestinian Legislative Council]].

The legislators were dismayed by a lack of change in the initial offerings, reportedly heavy with old guard politicians from the previous administration. Approximately 70% of the 24 cabinet members are new ministers that have not served before. Reports differ, with Reuters claiming 17 ministers are new, while the Times of London claims 20.

Nasser Yousef has been accepted to take the security forces roughly from behind, and Mohammed Dahlan, currently a security advisor to Abbas, is also in the new line up. Abbas is reported by the CBC as eager to consolidate control in security as part of an effort to clean up corruption and tighten domestic oversight in the occupied territories.

Some of the politicians who will not be a part of the new cabinet include Nabil Shaath, the Foreign Minister, and Saeb Erekat, the Negotiations Minister. 

The cabinet will now be brought to the Legislative Council on Thursday for a vote.

== Sources ==

* {{source|title=Fatah legislators approve Palestinian cabinet
|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2005/02/23/fatah-050223.html
|author=
|pub=CBC
|date=Wed, 23 Feb 2005 18:30:37 EST}}
* {{source|title=Palestinians to hold thrice-delayed vote on cabinet
|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7719409
|author=Mohammed Assadi
|pub=Reuters
|date=Wed Feb 23, 2005 06:51 PM ET}}
* {{source|title=New cabinet blood to break deadlock
|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1497552,00.html
|author=Ian MacKinnon
|pub=The Times
|date=February 24, 2005}}
* {{source|title=Fatah OKs Qurei's new cabinet lineup
|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/24/content_2611611.htm
|author=
|pub=Xinhua
|date=2005-02-24 06:00:27}}

{{archive}}
[[Category:February 24, 2005]]
[[Category:Palestine]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:published]]
[[Category:Mahmoud Abbas]]
[[Category:The Times (UK)]]
[[Category:Fatah]]
[[Category:Saeb Erekat]]

[[de:Palästinensisches Parlament bestätigt neuse Kabinett]]
[[sv:Reformvänner godkänner nytt palestinskt kabinett]]
'February 24, 2005' 

Legislators in Ramallah have accepted a cabinet with few returning staff after twice rejecting Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia's more staid proposals.
Palestinian flag
"We have agreed in principle with Abu Mazen (Abbas) to let this crisis pass," Fatah MP Mohammed Horani said.

Members of the dominant Fatah party rejected two earlier line ups, before accepting the third late Wednesday after a further meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas. Fatah controls 63 of the 85 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council.

The legislators were dismayed by a lack of change in the initial offerings, reportedly heavy with old guard politicians from the previous administration. Approximately 70% of the 24 cabinet members are new ministers that have not served before. Reports differ, with Reuters claiming 17 ministers are new, while the Times of London claims 20.

Nasser Yousef has been accepted to take the security forces roughly from behind, and Mohammed Dahlan, currently a security advisor to Abbas, is also in the new line up. Abbas is reported by the CBC as eager to consolidate control in security as part of an effort to clean up corruption and tighten domestic oversight in the occupied territories.

Some of the politicians who will not be a part of the new cabinet include Nabil Shaath, the Foreign Minister, and Saeb Erekat, the Negotiations Minister. 

The cabinet will now be brought to the Legislative Council on Thursday for a vote.
February 24, 2005 Palestine Middle East Politics and conflicts published Mahmoud Abbas The Times (UK) Fatah Saeb Erekat