RAMALLAH, June 9: Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Authority announced on Sunday, a sweeping reorganization of its cabinet aimed at silencing criticism at home and abroad that it was corrupt and inefficient.
The moves, to restore international confidence in the Palestinian leadership, came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in the United States trying again to dump Arafat as a player in the peace process.
The reorganization cuts the number of cabinet posts from 31 to 21, and taps a respected Palestinian general as interior minister to be pointman in the overhaul of the authority’s controversial security forces.
The revamp also brings in fresh blood to the key finance portfolio, officials said.
“This transitional government will have the task of preparing the municipal, legislative and presidential elections, slated for the end of 2002 and the start of 2003,” information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo told a news conference.
But there was no sign that the 72-year-old Arafat, who has led the Palestinian movement for three decades, was ready to step down as head of the PA.
Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator who retained his post as minister of local affairs, brushed off speculation Arafat could be given a purely ceremonial job. “That’s not being discussed,” he told CNN.
Israeli officials reacted warily to the announced cabinet changes.
Israel has made Palestinian reforms and a halt to the attacks a pre-condition for the resumption of peace talks. Its main ally, the United States, has also put a priority on revamping the Palestinian administration.
Ten ministers were ousted from the old Palestinian cabinet and five new faces were brought in. The most closely watched changes were in the critical positions of interior and finance minister.
General Abdel Razak Al Yahiya, a former negotiator with Israel, will become the PA’s interior minister, stepping in for Arafat who has held the portfolio since the Authority’s establishment in 1994.—AFP
