A new Palestinian government, headed by prime minister Rami Hamdallah, was sworn in on Thursday in front of president Mahmud Abbas at his headquarters in Ramallah, an AFP correspondent said. The 24-member cabinet included some changes, notably the appointment of two deputy premiers and a new finance minister, but remains largely unchanged from its predecessor.
Hamdallah succeeded Salam Fayyad, who resigned in mid April after months of difficult relations with president Mahmud Abbas and stayed on as caretaker until Hamdallah's appointment on Sunday. The new line-up saw two deputy premiers sworn in - former foreign minister Ziad Abu Amr, and Mohammed Mustafa, head of the Palestinian investment fund, as an economy adviser.
Banker and economist Shukri Bishara took over the finance ministry, and Kamal al-Shirafi, from Gaza, will serve as minister of social affairs. Ali Zaydan - head of Gaza's Al-Aqsa University and the Arab American University in Jenin in the West Bank, moves from the transport and communications ministry to that of higher education. Nabil al-Dumeidi takes over the communications portfolio.
Medics unionist Jawad Awad is health minister, and the local government ministry will be headed by Saed al-Kuni. Hamdallah stressed that his administration would rule only for "a transitional period" until formation of a unity government comprising Abbas's Fatah faction and the rival Hamas movement, which governs Gaza.
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