Arafat shies away from major cabinet changes

Yasser Arafat is considering limited alterations in his self-rule government, but not the sweeping cabinet reshuffle that many have sought, Palestinian sources reported on July 28.

Despite calls for the dismissal of ministers by a special commission investigating pervasive corruption and mismanagement by the Palestinian Authority, Arafat will not push a "radical cabinet change," one official close to the Palestinian leader noted.

"Arafat is expected to make a series of moves such as combining some ministries and making structural changes in some others to straighten out their finances and administration," he said.

"Right now, he's naming ministers to replace those who are too ill to conduct their duties," he added.

Talk of a sweeping change in the self-rule government arose after the special commission submitted a report a week ago to Arafat recommending the sacking of several ministers for mismanaging public funds.

Arafat created the commission to investigate an internal audit which found two months ago that some 36 million US dollars, 40 percent of the self-rule budget, had been wasted or mismanaged by authority departments in 1996.

Reports of a reshuffle increased with the resignation last week of Arafat's controversial Justice Minister, Freih Abu Meddein.

So far, Arafat has made no moves to touch the cabinet. He has yet to appoint either a new justice minister or a new tourism minister to replace Elias Freij, who resigned several months ago for health reasons.

He may also replace Industry Minister Beshir Barghouthi who has been unable to conduct his duties due to repeated hospitalization.

"The commission report was discussed last Friday in the weekly cabinet meeting and it was decided to hold a special session to discuss it once Arafat finishes reading it," the official said.

"Only one copy has been made and Arafat has it," he said.