Palestinian cabinet resigns to ensure domestic stability

Palestinian cabinet resigns to ensure domestic stability

2011-02-14 22:46:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

WEST BANK (BNO NEWS) -- The Palestinian cabinet on Monday resigned in an apparent attempt to ensure domestic stability following uprisings in Egypt, the Haaretz newspaper reported.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also announced that next September the long overdue elections will be held. The reshuffle of the cabinet was demanded by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

Fayyad retained his post and will appoint the new cabinet as soon as possible. The cabinet was considered as dysfunctional by many Palestinians. The PM has six weeks to designate the new cabinet.

Abbas' credibility has dropped in recent times and the Palestinian Authority allegedly fears civilian demonstrations similar to the ones in Egypt that caused the dismissal of former President Hosni Mubarak.

President Abbas has been criticized for the poor functioning of his government as well as the stalled talks with Israel in order to achieve peace ion the region and establish a Palestinian state.

The Palestinian Authority has a limited mandate in the occupied West Bank as it lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007, the Islamist group which rejects permanent co-existence with Israel.

"The new cabinet should focus on strengthening the preparedness of the national institutions for the establishment of the state of independent Palestine," said Abbas.

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