First and Second Hamdallah Governments explained

Cabinet Name:First and Second Hamdallah Governments
Flag:Flag of Palestine.svg
Flag Border:true
Date Formed:June 2013
Date Dissolved:June 2014
Government Head:Rami Hamdallah
State Head:Mahmoud Abbas
Previous:Second Fayyad Government
Successor:Third Hamdallah Government

The Palestinian governments of 2013 were two Palestinian governments established respectively in June and September 2013. They ruled de facto over the West Bank only.

The Palestinian government of June 2013 was led by Rami Hamdallah, appointed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by presidential decree on 6 June 2013 in Ramallah, the West Bank. The cabinet comprised 24 members, and was not presented for approval by the Palestinian Legislative Council. Two weeks later, Hamdallah resigned in protest at the appointment of two deputy prime ministers for political and economic affairs. Hamdallah later backtracked from his resignation and on 19 September 2013, the cabinet was sworn in for the second time, without any changes.

The Hamdallah government succeeded the successive governments of Salam Fayyad, who had resigned as a consequence of the 2011–2012 anti-corruption protests.

Timeline

On 14 February 2013, amid pan-Arab calls for reform, Prime Minister Fayyad submitted to President Abbas his resignation along with that of his cabinet.[1] After consultations with other factions, institutions, and civil society groups, Abbas asked Fayyad to form a new government.[2] The reshuffle had long been demanded by Fayyad as well as members of Abbas's Fatah faction.[2]

On 6 June 2013, President Mahmud Abbas appointed Rami Hamdallah Prime Minister, but was not presented for approval by the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Two weeks later, Hamdallah resigned in protest at the appointment of two deputy prime ministers for political and economic affairs.[3] According to, deputy speaker of the PLC, the real reason Hamdallah resigned was because he discovered the Prime Minister has no power and that there was no point in having a prime minister “at a time when President Abbas has a monopoly over all the executive branch’s authorities.” “The presence of two deputy prime ministers, who are friends of President Abbas, means that the prime minister is a powerless figure,”[4] Hamdallah's June appointment was originally envisioned as an interim measure until a unity government with Hamas could be formed.

On 23 June 2013, Abbas accepted Hamdallah's resignation, but asked him to stay on on a caretaker basis until a new premier could be appointed.[3]

On 19 September 2013, Hamdallah withdrew his resignation and the government was sworn in for the second time, without any changes.[5]

In June 2014, the government was replaced by a Fatah-Hamas unity government, with Hamdallah as prime minister.

Members of the Government

June 2013 to June 2014 [6] [7] [8]

MinisterOfficeParty
1 Rami HamdallahPrime MinisterFatah
2Ziad Abu AmrDeputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs
3 Muhammad MustafaDeputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs
4Riyad al-Malki[9] Foreign Affairs Minister
5Said Abu AliInterior MinisterFatah
6Shukri BisharaFinance Minister
7Ali MuhannaJustice
8Ahmad MajdalaniLabor
9Ali Abu ZuhriEducation Minister
10Kamal al-SharafiSocial Affairs
11Mahmoud al-HabashWaqf and Religious Affairs
12Rabiha DiabWomen's Affairs
13Issa QaraqePrisoners Affairs
14Maher GhneimPublic works and Housing
15Adnan al-HusseiniJerusalem Affairs
16Jawad HarazallahNational Economy
17Rula Maa'yaaTourism and Antiquities
18Safaa’ Nasser EddinTelecommunications and Information Technology
19Walid AssafAgriculture
20Jawad AwwadHealth
21Sa’ed al-KawniLocal Government
22Nabil DmeidiTransportation
23Muhammad Abu RamadanState for Planning affairs
24Civil Affairs [10] Fatah
25Fawwaz AqelSecretary-General of the Cabinet (Rank of Minister)

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa – country by country. CNN. 18 February 2011.
  2. Web site: Palestinian cabinet resigns. Al Jazeera English. 14 February 2011. 19 February 2011.
  3. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/08/13/Abbas-asks-caretaker-Palestinian-pm-to-stay-on.html Abbas asks caretaker Palestinian PM to stay on
  4. http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Abbas-accepts-Palestinian-PM-Hamdallahs-resignation-317426 PA's Abbas accepts PM Hamdallah's resignation
  5. http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Abbas-swears-in-16th-Palestinian-Authority-government-in-Ramallah-326569 Abbas swears in 16th Palestinian Authority government in Ramallah
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20131018005834/http://palestineun.org/about-palestine/government-of-the-state-of-palestine/ Government of the State of Palestine, 6 June 2013
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20150917014330/http://www.undp.ps/en/aboutundp/part.html United Nations Development Programme—Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People
  8. http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/New-PA-govt-sworn-in-amid-failure-to-form-govt-with-Hamas-315744 15th government of Palestinian Authority sworn in
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120083905/http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2344943&Language=en Kuwait News
  10. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/11/14/Israel-agrees-to-return-stolen-organs-of-dead-Palestinians.html Israel agrees to return stolen organs of dead Palestinians