On video: Abu Mazen and Anthony Blinken meeting in Ramallah/photo: Reuters
Palestinian President Abu Mazen is expected to announce today (Thursday) the appointment of the chairman of the Palestinian Investment Fund, Muhammad Mustafa, as prime minister and task him with forming a new government, according to senior Palestinian and American officials.
why is it important
The appointment of Mustafa and the establishment of what is supposed to be a government of technocrats is the first political step in the process of "renewal" of the Palestinian Authority after October 7 and in an effort to carry out reforms.
Arab and Western countries are divided over the question of whether Mustafa - who is considered Abu Mazen's confidant - will receive a free hand from the Palestinian president to carry out significant reforms in the PA.
Muhammad Mustafa/official website, Wikipedia, Khaled6680
Mustafa's supporters claim on the other hand that it is precisely because of the fact that Abu Mazen trusts him that he will be able to carry out the necessary reforms.
The main issue that will be faced by the new Palestinian government will be the stabilization of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, and the preparation of a plan regarding the integration of the Authority in the management of the Gaza Strip the day after the war.
To this must be added the dire economic situation in which the authority is.
In the news center
The outgoing Palestinian Prime Minister, Muhammad Shteyeh, resigned a few weeks ago after five years in office.
This, against the background of increasing pressure on Abu Mazen from the US and Arab countries to carry out extensive reforms, including the infusion of new blood into the leadership of the PA.
The 69-year-old Mustafa has been serving as Abu Mazen's economic advisor for several years and previously served as Minister of Economy and Deputy Prime Minister.
Mustafa previously worked at the World Bank and holds a PhD from George Washington University.
Behind the Scenes
Three senior American, Arab and Palestinian officials said that in recent weeks there has been a campaign of pressure from Western and Arab countries on Abu Mazen regarding the appointment of the next prime minister.
Several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, wanted the new prime minister not to be one of Abu Mazen's loyalists and to have an independent status, according to the sources.
One of the names mentioned as a candidate of this type is former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Senior Arab and American officials said Abu Mazen opposed Fayad's appointment but promised the new government would be a government of technocrats.
A source privy to the details stated that Qatar pressured Abu Mazen to appoint to the new government persons who would be acceptable to Hamas, including Islamists, so that they could also operate in Gaza.
Abu Mazen rejected this request.
The American government decided not to interfere in the appointment.
Abu Mazen and Biden/Reuters
Mustafa's candidacy for the position of Prime Minister met with some opposition from within the American administration as well.
Several officials at the Foreign Ministry in Washington expressed concern that the fact that Mustafa is one of Abu Mazen's loyalists will mean that he will not carry out real reforms.
A senior Palestinian official said that several senior officials at the US State Department and the White House met Mustafa in recent weeks and heard from him about his plans if he were to be appointed prime minister.
Mustafa even gave senior officials in the American administration a written document with the main points of his plan for stabilizing the Palestinian Authority and integrating the Authority into the administration of Gaza.
The Biden administration did not intervene directly in the question of who will be the candidate for the position of Palestinian Prime Minister and decided to maintain neutrality.
Senior American officials said they would judge Mustafa and his government according to their actions.
The Israeli government also expressed no opposition to Mustafa's appointment.
Senior Israeli officials told their American counterparts that they have no problem with Mustafa, and they will work with him on all issues except the Gaza Strip issue.
The big picture
Prime Minister Netanyahu still opposes the inclusion of the Palestinian Authority in the management of the Strip the day after the war.
Defense Minister Galant and senior security officials claim that the Palestinian Authority should be involved in one way or another because it is the only alternative to Hamas rule or an Israeli military government.
Mustafa's main challenge as prime minister will be to prove to the US and other western countries that support the Palestinian Authority as well as to the central countries of the Arab world that he is reliable, trustworthy and capable of pushing real reforms in the Palestinian Authority.
Without the belief that this is what he intends to do, the US, the European Union and Arab countries are unlikely to pressure Israel to allow the Palestinian Authority to play a role in the Gaza Strip the day after the war.
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