Fifth Arafat Government
The Palestinian Authority Government of October 2002 was a government of the Palestinian National Authority (PA) from October 2002 to April 2003, headed by Yasser Arafat, the President of the Palestinian National Authority. The Cabinet was largely equal to the June Government, from which six Ministers had resigned.
Fifth Arafat Government | |
---|---|
Date formed | October 2002 |
Date dissolved | April 29, 2003 |
People and organisations | |
Head of state | Yasser Arafat |
Head of government | Yasser Arafat |
Total no. of members | 6 |
History | |
Predecessor | Palestinian Authority Government of June 2002 |
Successor | Palestinian Authority Government of April 2003 |
Officeholders whose status is disputed are shown in italics |
Member state of the Arab League |
Palestine portal |
In April 2003, the next Government led by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was established.
Powers and jurisdiction
Pursuant to the Oslo Accords, the authority of the PA Government was limited to some civil rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank Areas A and B and in the Gaza Strip, and to internal security in Area A and in Gaza.
2003 Basic Law changes
After the dismissal of the Government, no elections were held. On 18 March 2003, Arafat signed the 2003 Amended Basic Law,[1] which transformed the political system into a semi-presidential one. The post of Prime Minister was created,[2] who became responsible for the composition of the Cabinet and became the Chairman of the "Council of Ministers".
Mahmoud Abbas was named as the proposed first Prime Minister on 6 March 2003,[3] and appointed on 19 March 2003. Abbas became the head of the next Government on 29 April.[4]
Members of the Government [5]
Minister | Office | Party | |
0 | Yasser Arafat | President of "Council of Ministers" | Fatah |
1 | Salam Fayyad | Finance | Independent |
2 | Hani al-Hasan | Interior | Fatah |
3 | Yasser Abed Rabbo | Information and Culture | Palestine Democratic Union (FIDA) |
4 | Nabil Shaath | Planning and International Cooperation | Fatah |
5 | Na'im Abu al-Hummus | Education | Fatah |
6 | Intissar al-Wazir | Social Affairs | Fatah |
7 | Nabeel Kassis | Tourism and Antiquities | Independent |
8 | Zuhair Sourani | Justice | Independent |
9 | Saeb Erekat | Local Governance | Fatah |
10 | Azzam al-Ahmad | Housing | Fatah |
11 | Maher al-Masri | Economy, Trade and Industry | Fatah |
12 | Abdel Rahman Hamad | Energy and Natural Resources | Fatah |
13 | Rafiq al-Natsheh | Agriculture | Fatah |
14 | Ahmad al-Shibi | Health | Fatah |
15 | Ghassan Khatib | Labor | Palestinian People's Party |
16 | Mitri Abu Eita | Transportation and Telecommunication | Independent |
17 | Abdul Aziz Shahin | Rations | Independent |
18 | Samir Ghosheh | Orient House Director | Independent |
19 | Hisham Abdul Razeq | Prisoners Affairs | Fatah |
See also
References
- 2003 Amended Basic Law, 18 March 2003
- The Palestinian Prime Minister: A Reference Guide. PLO Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD), March 2003
- Arafat chooses Palestinian prime minister. CNN, 6 March 2003
- Inaugural Speech - Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas. MidEastweb, 29 April 2003
- PNA Government, Jerusalem Media and Community Centre. The link is given on this page.