Arafat may announce his new government: 20-21 ministers, three new
Palestine, Politics, 10/23/2002

Palestinian officials have announced that the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has completed the formation of the new government which might be declared today or tomorrow and will be submitted to the Palestinian National Council ( parliament) next week.

Arafat met yesterday with the central committee of the Fatah movement which occupies the majority of seats of the Palestinian legislative council and the meeting aimed at completing consultations.

Arafat's advisor Nabil Abu Rudinah said that "declaring the government has become nearby, may be tomorrow ( Wednesday). The main issue for the new Palestinian government will be " ending the occupation and prepare for the elections," he said.

The chairman of the Palestinian legislative council, Ahmad Qrei, told journalists that Arafat will declare the foundation of the new government before the council in the mid of next week. Qrei added "I was officially informed by Arafat that he has completed the formation of the government and called the legislative council for an emergency meeting to debate the government's statement and to vote for the government." A high ranking official in the central committee of the Fatah movement said following yesterday's meeting that it is expected that Arafat will announce this including only three new ministers among which are Hani al-Hassan as a minister of the interior; Zuheir al-Sourani as a minister of justice and Ahmad al-Sheibi as a minister of health. He said that the ministry will include 20 to 21 ministers.

He added that at least 14 ministers from the resigned ministry will keep their posts.

The Palestinian government resigned on September 7 when the legislative council was about to cast confidence from the confidence.

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