The U.S. State Department said on Friday that it welcomed the nominations of the Palestinian Authority's new ministers, a day after Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa announced the formation of a new cabinet that also includes the post of foreign minister.
“The United States looks forward to working with the new Cabinet to promote peace, security, and prosperity, and we are committed to engaging with this new administration to deliver credible reforms,” said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. I want to go,'' he said. “Palestine revitalization is essential to delivering results for the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza and establishing the conditions for stability in the broader region.”
The last prime minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, resigned in February under pressure from the United States and the international community. Mustafa was appointed as his successor by PA President Mahmoud Abbas earlier this month with a mandate to “reform and revitalize” the PA.
The Biden administration has called for the PA to be “activated” to take control of the Gaza Strip once the Israel-Hamas war ends. But just last week, administration officials insisted they would reserve judgment on new PA members until they see government action. The PA is also said to be in the final stages of negotiations with the regime over controversial welfare policy reforms, including a “murder compensation” or “martyr payments” program for terrorists and their families.
So what has changed? A few things.
First, the United States has made clear to Israel that while it still supports the war against Hamas, it no longer intends to abandon the Jewish state. pure white medical record. This was made clear in the Israeli government's plans to expand military operations in Rafah and in its public statement on last week's abstention (rather than veto) of the UN Security Council's cease-fire resolution.
Second, although Prime Minister Abbas initially rejected the idea of PA control in Gaza at the beginning of the current war, he appears to have changed his tune. The PA should recall that he ruled Gaza until he was ousted by Hamas in 2007.
Third, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has consistently expressed his opposition to the PA's takeover of Gaza, responded to the US' assertion that unless Israel intends to reoccupy Gaza, there is no one else who can do the job. , he may be reconsidering his position. territory. Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed support for a new technocratic leadership in Gaza to replace the PA.
Finally, Hamas has rejected the new Palestinian government as “illegitimate” and instead called for all Palestinian factions to form a power-sharing government ahead of new elections, which have not been held in 18 years. .
Mahmoud Abbas retains final say
Mr. Abbas, now 88, holds supreme power and reserves the right to have final say on any move by Mustafa. “Mohammad Mustafa is not the person to send a message of reform,” former U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross said, according to Politico.
Mustafa delivered a new government to Prime Minister Abbas in lightning speed last week. It is made up of 23 ministers, including one from Gaza. The best known of them is Sharhabir al-Zaim, who holds the portfolio of justice. While he held the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs himself, he created the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreigners for Dr. Varsen Agabekian, the Ministry of Interior for Ziad Hab al-Reh, and the Ministry of Finance for Omar al-Reh. Bitar, and the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs to Ashraf al-Awal. He also created a Department of State for Relief Affairs to focus on the Gaza Strip.
According to the Media Line news agency, the new government's plan, whose political reference is the Palestine Liberation Organization, confirmed that it would follow and respect all previous agreements signed by the PLO. A Pennsylvania state official told The Media Line that Mustafa's new government had regional, U.S. and European approvals, and “it was imperative that we meet U.S. approval.”
Still, Mustafa and his cabinet have a long way to go to prove to the United States, Israel, and the rest of the world that they are serious about taking the PA in a completely new direction. They could start by publicly distancing themselves from Hamas terrorism while continuing security coordination and expressing readiness for peaceful dialogue with Israel.
