President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority is set to appoint Muhammad Mustafa, a close economic adviser, as prime minister in the coming days, according to sources familiar with the matter. This decision, if finalized, would signal a rejection of international efforts to bring in an independent prime minister to revitalize the authority.
While Mr. Abbas is leaning towards appointing Mr. Mustafa, final consultations with Arab countries are still ongoing before a presidential decree is signed. The appointment would give Mr. Mustafa three weeks to form a new government, with a possible extension of two weeks if needed, as per Palestinian basic law.
The move comes after Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh resigned in late February, citing the need for a new government to address the evolving situation in the Gaza Strip. The recent conflict between Hamas and Israel has raised questions about the governance and reconstruction of Gaza post-war.
The United States has been advocating for reforms within the Palestinian Authority, hoping it could eventually govern Gaza after the conflict. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected any role for the Authority in this regard.
Critics view the Palestinian Authority as corrupt and ineffective, with Mr. Abbas ruling by decree for years. The lack of elections in the Palestinian territories since 2006 has further fueled discontent among the public.
The potential appointment of Mr. Mustafa has sparked debate among analysts, with some seeing it as a move to maintain the status quo and consolidate power in Mr. Abbas’s hands. Others believe the true test will be the independence and authority given to the new government ministers.
As the situation unfolds, the Palestinian public and the international community will be closely watching to see how Mr. Mustafa’s appointment, if confirmed, will impact the future governance and reconstruction efforts in the region.
