Abbas resigned as Prime Minister on 6 September 2003 because of a struggle for power with President Yasser Arafat and the stagnated implementation of the road map for peace.[3][4]
After the discharge of the Government in September 2003, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmed Qurei was asked to become Prime Minister of an emergency government,[5] but Arafat, on 5 October, appointed Qurei PM of a small emergency cabinet before a government could be presented to Parliament. Qurei and his cabinet were sworn in on 7 October 2003.[6][7]
History
Formerly, the government was chosen and appointed by PA President Arafat, and Arafat also presided the "Council of Ministers". Under strong pressure of the international community and Israel, Arafat, held hostage in his largely destroyed headquarters in Ramallah besieged by the Israeli army since September 2002, changed the political system. On 18 March 2003, he signed the 2003 Amended Basic Law,[8] which transformed the political system into a semi-presidential one. The Prime Minister became responsible for the composition of the Cabinet and became the Chairman of the "Council of Ministers".
On 19 March, Mahmoud Abbas accepted the post of Prime Minister. Arafat accepted Abbas' new government on 24 April,[9] and on 29 April Abbas and his Cabinet were approved by the Parliament.[2] The change came after strong pressure by the Middle East Quartet, who wanted to push its Roadmap for peace and supported Abbas.[9] The day after the inauguration of the Government, on 30 April 2003, the Quartet published its Roadmap for peace.
The Abbas Government was not long-lived. Abbas already resigned as Prime Minister on 6 September 2003, because of a struggle for power with Yasser Arafat and the stagnated implementation of the Road map for Peace by Israel.[3][4]
Members of the Government
1. Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen): Prime Minister and Interior Minister -Fatah
2. Yasser Abed Rabbo: Minister of Cabinet Affairs - [FIDA]/former DFLP
3. Muhammad Dahlan: Minister of State for Security Affairs -Fatah
4.Saeb Erekat: Minister of State for Negotiations Affairs -Fatah
^Arafat Swears In New Palestinian Cabinet. Greg Myre, The New York Times, 8 October 2003. "Mr. Qurei was nominated a month ago, but has been unable to assemble a full cabinet, with more than 20 ministers, to present to parliament. The emergency regulations give him a month before he has to seek a vote of confidence from the legislature."
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