Sunday June 2 2013, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, appointed a new Prime Minister to replace the resigned P.M. Dr. Salaam Fayyad in the occupied West Bank.Abbas asked the newly appointed P.M. with forming a “Government of Technocrats”.
The new P.M. Rami Hamdallah is a member of Fateh movement, headed by Abbas, and has no extensive political experience, but said to be widely respected.
Hamdallah is the head of the An-Najah University in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. In 2002, he also served at the secretary general of the Palestinian Central Elections Committee.
The Hamas movement issued an official statement rejecting the new move, and said that appointing a new Prime Minister is a violation of the National Unity Agreement.
Sami Abu Zuhri, spokesperson of Hamas, stated that the new government does not represent the Palestinian people, and considered it to be “illegitimate” as it was never approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Abu Zuhri further stated that forming a new government in the West Bank is a violation of the Cairo Agreement, and all reconciliation understandings between Fateh and Hamas movement.
He also called for an immediate implementation of all unity agreements in order to end political divisions and achieve comprehensive reconciliation and unity.
Furthermore, Taher An-Nunu, spokesperson of the Hamas-led government in Gaza stated that the newly appointed cabinet and PM do not represent the Palestinian people, and considered the move illegal.
Israel had to immediate comment on the appointment of a new Palestinian P.M, a move that precedes the formation of a newly appointed government in the West Bank.
Hamdallah holds a PHD in Applied Linguistics (from a British University), and has been working as the Dean of the An-Najah University in Nablus for the past 15 years. In 2002, he served as the secretary general of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission.
