Palestinian Authority Government of April 2003

The Palestinian Authority Government of April 2003 was a government of the Palestinian National Authority (PA) from 29 April to 6 September 2003. It was headed by Mahmoud Abbas, the first PA Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and his government were approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council on 29 April.

Abbas resigned as Prime Minister on 6 September 2003 because of a struggle for power with President Yasser Arafat and the stagnated implementation of the Road map for Peace.

After the discharge of the Government in September 2003, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmed Qurei was asked to become Prime Minister of an emergency government,''US Warning As Qurei Accepts PM's Role''
Sky News, 10 September 2003 but Arafat, on 5 October, appointed Qurei PM of a small emergency cabinet before a government could be presented to Parliament.''Arafat Swears In New Palestinian Cabinet''
Greg Myre, The New York Times, 8 October 2003.
"Mr. Qurei was nominated a month ago, but has been unable to assemble a full cabinet, with more than 20 ministers, to present to parliament. The emergency regulations give him a month before he has to seek a vote of confidence from the legislature."Tom Lansford
''Political Handbook of the World 2014''
p. 1631 (last para but one). CQ Press, March 2014.

History

Formerly, the government was chosen and appointed by PA President Arafat, and Arafat also presided the "Council of Ministers". Under strong pressure of the international community and Israel, Arafat, held hostage in his largely destroyed headquarters in Ramallah besieged by the Israeli army since September 2002, changed the political system. On 18 March 2003, he signed the ''2003 Amended Basic Law'',''2003 Amended Basic Law''
18 March 2003 which transformed the political system into a semi-presidential one. The Prime Minister became responsible for the composition of the Cabinet and became the Chairman of the "Council of Ministers".

On 19 March, Mahmoud Abbas accepted the post of Prime Minister. Arafat accepted Abbas' new government on 24 April,''Arafat accepts a new government''
The Telegraph, 24 April 2003 and on 29 April Abbas and his Cabinet were approved by the Parliament.
MidEastweb, 29 April 2003 The change came after strong pressure by the Middle East Quartet, who wanted to push its Roadmap for peace and supported Abbas. The day after the inauguration of the Government, on 30 April 2003, the Quartet published its Roadmap for peace.

The Abbas Government was not long-lived. Abbas already resigned as Prime Minister on 6 September 2003, because of a struggle for power with Yasser Arafat and the stagnated implementation of the Road map for Peace by Israel.''Resignation of Abbas Raises Dilemma''
Xinhua News Agency, 8 September 2003
AP, 7 September 2003

Members of the Government

1. Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen): Prime Minister and Interior Minister - Fatah

2. Yasser Abed Rabbo: Minister of Cabinet Affairs - IDAformer DFLP

3. Muhammad Dahlan: Minister of State for Security Affairs - Fatah

4.Saeb Erekat: Minister of State for Negotiations Affairs - Fatah

5. Nabil Shaath: Foreign Affairs - Fatah

6. Salam Fayyad: Finance - echnocrat - Independent
7. Abdul Karim Abu Salah: Justice - Fatah/ ndependent
8. Maher al Masri: Economy, Trade & Rations - Fatah

9. Nabil Kassis: Planning - ndependent
10.Nabil Amr: Information - Fatah

11. Rafiq al Natsheh: Agriculture - Fatah

12. Kamal Sharafi: Health - ormer PFLP
13. Naim Abu Al Hummus: Education - Fatah

14. Mitri Abu 'Aita: Tourism & Antiquities - ndependent
15. Ghassan Khatib: Labor - alestinian People's Party, PPP
16. Azam al-Shawa: Energy & Natural Resources

17. Jamal Shobaki: Local Governance - Fatah

18. Ziad Abu Amr: Culture - ndependent
19. Hamdan Ashou: Housing and Public Works - Fatah

20. Azzam al-Ahmad: Telecommunication and Information Technology - Fatah

21. Saedi al-Krunz: Transportation - Fatah

22. Intisar al Wazir (Um Jihad): Social Affairs - Fatah

23. Hisham Abdul Razeq: Prisoners' Affairs - Fatah

24. Abdul Fatah Hamayel: Minister of State without portfolio - Fatah

Vacant Ministries:

1. Islamic Waqf (Trust)

2. Sports and Youths

3. Jerusalem

''The PA Ministerial Cabinet List April 2003 - October 2003''
Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre. Archived on 15 December 2003

See also

*Palestinian government

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palestinian Authority Government of 2003 04
Palestinian National Authority governments
Cabinets disestablished in 2003
Cabinets established in 2003
2003 establishments in the Palestinian territories
2003 disestablishments in the Palestinian territories