Saturday Jun 21, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News

Abbas swears in new PA government amid factional tensions

Two factions of PLO refuse to participate in ceremony • Hamas rejects new PA cabinet as a "separatist government" that has "no national legitimacy and will reinforces the chances of severing the West Bank from Gaza."

by  Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff
Published on  04-14-2019 08:01
Last modified: 05-28-2019 13:09
Abbas swears in new PA government amid factional tensionsReuters

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas stands next to Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and other members of the new government during a swearing-in ceremony in Ramallah, Saturday | Photo: Reuters

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday swore in a new government headed by a loyalist from his dominant Fatah party, a move rejected by his Islamist rival Hamas as a blow to unity efforts.

Mohammed Shtayyeh, an economist and longtime Abbas adviser, will serve as prime minister of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. Foreign Minister Riad Malki and Finance Minister Shukri Bishara will continue in their positions.

Shtayyeh was named Palestinian prime minister on March 10, replacing the independent university president Rami Hamdallah. He will run the ministries of interior and religious affairs until new appointees are named for the two posts.

The rival Hamas group that runs Gaza called the move blow to unity efforts that faltered since the two groups signed a new reconciliation deal in Cairo in October 2017, but disputes over power-sharing had blocked the implementation of the agreement.

"This is a separatist government, it has no national legitimacy and it will reinforce the chances of severing the West Bank from Gaza," said a statement issued by Hamas as the swearing-in ceremony in Ramallah ended.

Two factions of Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization refused to take part in Shtayyeh's government.

Shtayyeh's immediate challenge is to shore up the cash-strapped PA, which exercises limited self-rule under interim peace accords with Israel.

The PA has been squeezed by steep U.S. aid cuts, with the crisis exacerbated by a dispute with Israel over the deduction of a sum equivalent to what the PA pays to terrorists and their families from the tax revenue it collects for the PA, which amounts to about 5% of the tax money.

The PA has refused to accept any tax transfers from Israel until those funds are restored. It scaled back wages paid to civil servants in February and March to weather the crisis.

Speaking to his new cabinet members, Abbas repeated his rejection of Trump's as-yet-unannounced peace plan and said it was not useful to talk to Trump after he moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognized the holy city as Israel's capital.

"More developments will take place in the coming days but we will cooperate and confront it together because they are going to be difficult," said Abbas, hinting at the possible announcement of Trump's peace initiative.

Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. special Middle East peace envoy, welcomed the announcement of a new government and promised to cooperate with it.

"The United Nations remains fully committed to working with the Palestinian leadership and people in ending the occupation and advancing their legitimate national aspirations for statehood based on U.N. resolutions," Mladenov said.

Tags: governmentHamasPalestinian AuthorityPalestinianstaxesterrorists

Related Posts

Several wounded after large from Iran

Several wounded after large from Iran

by ILH Staff

Some 20–30 missiles from Iran target Israel. Teen, man in his 40s sustain severe injuries. Man in 50s moderately wounded.

Senior nuclear scientist killed in targeted Tehran strikeSocial media

Senior nuclear scientist killed in targeted Tehran strike

by ILH Staff

Meanwhile, Israeli jets target nuclear sites, missile component factories, and missile engine plants, notably the Organization of Defensive Innovation and...

Sources: Next 48 hours critical; US could get involvedSaul LOEB / AFP; REUTERS/Leah Millis ; WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS;

Trump's delay actually helps Israel

by Shirit Avitan Cohen

The time is being used to complete operational preparations – both for an attack and for possible escalation scenarios if...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il