Al-Quds: No Prime Minister Confirmed, Fayyad to Keep Post as Finance Minister

On Monday, a secure source told al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper that Hamas had agreed to keep Dr. Salam Fayyad on as the Minister of Finance in the new consensus government under a new prime minister, whose name has yet to be confirmed by either Fatah or Hamas.

Dr. Salam Fayyad, current Palestinian Prime Minister, presides over a meeting (WAFA Image).

Palestinian Al-Wattan TV said earlier on Monday that the post had been given to Gazan businessman Mamoun Abu Shahla.

Hamas insisted in closed meetings with Fatah that Fayyad would not continue to be the prime minister of the new government and called him one of the reasons for the five-year split between the parties. If the two parties accept a new prime minister, then a consensus government will be created without any obstacles.

According to the source, the closed meetings happened between Senior Fatah Central Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad and Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau Mousa Abu Marzouq. A meeting between the two most senior officials, Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Meshaal, is due to take place in Cairo on November 24.

In addition to Abu Shahla, four other names were nominated for the post of prime minister: Fatah nominated Nablus business magnate Munib al-Masri and Mohamad Mustafa, while Hamas nominated Jamal al-Khudri and Mazen Sunuqrot.

Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv reported on Monday that the American government, in cooperation with Israel, had warned the PA and Egypt that Fatah must not agree to a consensus government with Hamas or reject the Quartet’s conditions forswearing violence, recognizing Israel, and accepting previous Israel-Palestinian agreements. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has also warned Israel would cut its ties with the Palestinian Authority if Hamas is brought into the government.

An unnamed high-ranking Egyptian official confirmed Thursday’s Abbas-Meshaal meeting with al-Quds al-Arabi and said it would be followed by another meeting to sign agreements.

“Understanding and acceptance were reached between Hamas and Fatah about nominating another prime minister instead of Fayyad,” said Sami Abu Zahri, a Hamas spokesman. “No name was agreed on for this post. The elections to take place in May will also be discussed during the meeting.”

PNN - Palestine News Network