Palesinian Hakam Bal'awi as a charge de affairs for the Palestinian ministry

The Palestinians national security council will hold a meeting today dedicated to settle the issue of the ministry of the interior in the government of Ahmad Qrei. An issue which has become suspended after Naser Youssef refused to assume this post.

This was amid reports which said that the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat appointed the government's secretary general Hakam Bal'awi as a charge de affairs for the ministry.

Qrei's government yesterday held its first meting since the crisis which was provoked by the Minister of the Interior who had refused confirmation.

In its meeting, the Palestinian government discussed the incursion of the Israeli army in Rafah in Gaza as well as political issues including "finalizing a cease fire with Israel and the inter- Palestinian dialogue," according to the minister of foreign affairs Nabil Shaath.

He added commenting on appointing a minister of the interior that "this is a necessary matter which will be discussed in the meeting of the national security council." He added "that the national security council is a side authorized to take a strategic decision and it is a higher leadership, however, there is a Ministry of the Interior that we have to lead during the coming days."