New Palestinian PM Resigns After Two Weeks

Following the resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, which prompted considerable sadness for this blogger and others, some foresaw the end of the Palestinian Authority, the descent of West Bank into chaos, and the start of a third intifada. This could still happen, but the remaining hope for a strong Palestinian Authority is underpinned by its ability to garner both international and local legitimacy, something that a technocrat/reformer like Fayyad briefly managed before being undercut by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Accordingly, we hoped for a strong replacement for Fayyad because–like it or not–the long-term viability of Israel as a Jewish democracy is tied to the founding of a Palestinian state. And accordingly, the appointment of Rami Hamdallah, an unknown academic with no experience governing, prompted some raised eyebrows and some eye-rolling. Hamdallah was quickly seen as someone who wouldn’t be a threat to Abbas like Fayyad, who tried to stamp out corruption in the PA. This also meant that Hamdallah wasn’t expected to do much of anything. Two weeks later, Hamdallah (in a classic PA move) has tendered his resignation, reportedly because of a conflict about his duties as prime minister.

It was unclear if Rami Hamdallah, a former university dean, would step down or was using the threat of resignation to obtain more powers from Abbas.



Hamdallah’s move signaled disarray in the Palestinian Authority, the self-rule government in parts of the West Bank, and is potentially embarrassing for Abbas.



Abbas received the resignation and will consider it, said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an adviser to the president.

I guess the real question is whether you’re obligated to give two weeks when you’ve only been there for two weeks.

Earlier: On Salam Fayyad’s Resignation
Palestinian PM Submits Resignation After 2 Weeks [AP]