The Palestinian Authority Government of October 2002 was a government of the Palestinian National Authority (PA) from 29 October 2002 to 30 April 2003, headed by Yasser Arafat, the President of the Palestinian National Authority. The Cabinet was largely equal to the June Government, from which six Ministers had resigned.
Fifth Arafat Government | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Date formed | 29 October 2002 |
| Date dissolved | 30 April 2003 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Yasser Arafat |
| Head of government | Yasser Arafat |
| Total no. of members | 6 |
| History | |
| Predecessor | Palestinian Authority Government of June 2002 |
| Successor | Palestinian Authority Government of April 2003 |
On 30 April 2003, the next Government led by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was established.
Powers and jurisdiction
editPursuant to the Oslo Accords, the authority of the PA Government was limited to some civil rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank Areas A and B and in the Gaza Strip, and to internal security in Area A and in Gaza.
2003 Basic Law changes
editAfter the dismissal of the Government, no elections were held. On 18 March 2003, Arafat signed the 2003 Amended Basic Law,[1] which transformed the political system into a semi-presidential one. The post of Prime Minister was created,[2] who became responsible for the composition of the Cabinet and became the Chairman of the "Council of Ministers".
Mahmoud Abbas was named as the proposed first Prime Minister on 6 March 2003,[3] and appointed on 19 March 2003. Abbas and his cabinet were approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council on 29 April and he became the head of the next Government on 30 April after being sworn in.[4]
Members of the Government
edit| Index[5] | Minister | Office | Party |
| 0 | Yasser Arafat | President of "Council of Ministers" | Fatah |
| 1 | Salam Fayyad | Finance | Independent |
| 2 | Hani al-Hasan | Interior | Fatah |
| 3 | Yasser Abed Rabbo | Information and Culture | Palestine Democratic Union (FIDA) |
| 4 | Nabil Shaath | Planning and International Cooperation | Fatah |
| 5 | Na'im Abu al-Hummus | Education | Fatah |
| 6 | Intissar al-Wazir | Social Affairs | Fatah |
| 7 | Nabeel Kassis | Tourism and Antiquities | Independent |
| 8 | Zuhair Sourani | Justice | Independent |
| 9 | Saeb Erekat | Local Governance | Fatah |
| 10 | Azzam al-Ahmad | Housing | Fatah |
| 11 | Maher al-Masri | Economy, Trade and Industry | Fatah |
| 12 | Abdel Rahman Hamad | Energy and Natural Resources | Fatah |
| 13 | Rafiq al-Natsheh | Agriculture | Fatah |
| 14 | Ahmad al-Shibi | Health | Fatah |
| 15 | Ghassan Khatib | Labor | Palestinian People's Party |
| 16 | Mitri Abu Eita | Transportation and Telecommunication | Independent |
| 17 | Abdul Aziz Shahin | Rations | Independent |
| 18 | Samir Ghosheh | Orient House Director | Independent |
| 19 | Hisham Abdul Razeq | Prisoners Affairs | Fatah |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 2003 Amended Basic Law, 18 March 2003
- ^ The Palestinian Prime Minister: A Reference Guide Archived 8 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. PLO Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD), March 2003
- ^ Arafat chooses Palestinian prime minister. CNN, 6 March 2003
- ^ Inaugural Speech - Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas. MidEastweb, 29 April 2003
- ^ PNA Government, Jerusalem Media and Community Centre. The link is given on this page.