Second and Third Fayyad Governments

Second and Third Fayyad Governments
Date formed19 May 2009 (Second)
16 May 2012 (Third)
Date dissolved16 May 2012 (Second)
6 June 2013 (Third)
People and organisations
Head of stateMahmoud Abbas
Head of governmentSalam Fayyad
History
PredecessorFirst Fayyad Government
SuccessorFirst and Second Hamdallah Governments

The Second and Third Fayyad Governments or the Palestinian Government of May 2009 was a Palestinian government of the Palestinian National Authority led by Salam Fayyad from 19 May 2009 to 6 June 2013. Fayyad had been Prime Minister of the First Fayyad Government of June 2007.[1]

The Fayyad Government was the de jure government in the Palestinian Authority, though its control was confined to the West Bank Areas A and B, whereas Hamas formed the de facto Government in the Gaza Strip.[1]

The Second Fayyad Government comprised somewhere between 20 and 22 members depending on the consulted source. It resigned in February 2011, however due to disagreements of how to proceed, Fayyad continued to preside over a caretaker government.

Following the February 2012 Doha agreement and the successive May 2012 Cairo accord, which also failed to be implemented, Mahmoud Abbas asked Fayyad to form a new Cabinet, without Hamas' involvement.[2] On 16 May 2012, a reshuffled Cabinet was formed, creating the Third Fayyad Government.[3] Fayyad gave up his post as Finance Minister in favour of Nabeel Kassis. The PA faced an estimated financing gap of about $500 million. The government expanded to 25 members, with 11 new faces.[4]

In 2013, the Fayyad government was succeeded by the Palestinian governments of 2013 led by Rami Hamdallah.

Powers and jurisdiction

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Pursuant 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.

The Fayyad Government was the de jure government in the Palestinian Authority, though its control was confined to the West Bank Areas A and B, while Hamas formed the de facto Government in the Gaza Strip.[1]

Formation

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Most of the ministers were members of Fatah, although the Cabinet also included independents and members of third parties.[5]

The Government was appointed by presidential decree and lacked the approval of the Palestinian Legislative Council as required pursuant the Palestinian Basic Law. The opposition of the Hamas majority alone was enough to withhold the new government its legal basis, but even Fatah's parliamentary bloc did not endorse the government. Two PLC members refused to join the government when the Fatah bloc decided not to back the new Fayyad cabinet.[5] For the international community, this was not a reason to question the legality of the Government.

Members of the Government

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Second Government

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May 2009 to May 2012 [1][5][6]

Minister Office Party
1 Salam Fayyad Prime Minister, Finance Third Way/Independent
2 Said Abu Ali Interior Fatah
3 Riyad al-Malki Foreign Affairs Minister Ex-PFLP
4 Khaled al-Qawasmi Local Government Independent
5 Sa'adi al-Krunz Transportation Fatah
6 Ismail Deiq
(Ismail Daik, Ismail Du’ieq)
Agriculture Independent
7 Bassem Khoury Economy Fatah
8 Ali al-Jarbawi Planning and Development Independent
9 Rabiha Diab * Women's Affairs Fatah
10 Majda al-Masri Social Affairs DFLP
11 Ahmad al-Majdalani Labor PPSF
12 Mahmoud al-Habbash Waqf and Religious Affairs Independent
13 Khuloud Deibes Tourism Independent
14 Ali Khashan Justice Independent
15 Fathi Abu Moghli Health Independent
16 Mashhour Abu Daqqa Telecommunications Independent
17 Lamis al-Alami Education Independent
18 Issa Qaraqe ** Prisoners' Affairs Independent
19 Maher Ghneim Minister of State Fatah
20 Hassan Abu Libdeh *** Secretary-General of the Cabinet (Rank of Minister) Fatah
21 Hatem Abdul Qader **** Minister of State for Jerusalem Affairs Fatah
22 Mohammad Shtayyeh **** Public Works and Housing Fatah

* Palestine UN Observer lists Rabiha Ziab [sic] as Minister of Women's Affairs;[6] Ma'an writes that Diab refused, and lists Siham al-Barghouthi (Fida)[5]
** Mentioned by Palestine UN Observer. Ma'an writes that Qaraqe refused. However, he held the position in the next cabinets
*** Palestine UN Observer lists Libdeh as Minister of National Economy
**** Mentioned by Ma'an

Third Government

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May 2012 to June 2013[7]

Minister Office Party
1 Salam Fayyad Prime Minister Third Way/Independent
2 Said Abu Ali Interior Fatah
3 Riyad al-Malki Foreign Affairs Minister Ex-PFLP
4 Khaled al-Qawasmi Local Government Independent
5 Unknown Transportation
6 Unknown Agriculture
7 Unknown Economy
8 Mohammad Abu Ramadan Planning and Development
9 Rabiha Diab Women's Affairs
10 Unknown Social Affairs
11 Ahmad al-Majdalani Labor PPSF
12 Mahmoud al-Habbash Waqf and Religious Affairs Independent
13 Rula Maayah Tourism Fatah
14 Ali Mhanna Justice
15 Hani Abdin Health Fatah
16 Unknown Telecommunications
17 Lamis al-Alami Education Independent
18 Issa Qaraqe Prisoners' Affairs Independent
19 Unknown Minister of State
20 Unknown Secretary-General of the Cabinet (Rank of Minister)
21 Adnan Husseini Jerusalem Affairs
22 Unknown Public Works and Housing
23 Nabil Qasis Finance Independent
24 Siham Barghuti Culture
25 Yussef Abu Safiya Environment

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Palestinians Reappoint Prime Minister Who Had Quit. NYT, 19 May 2009
  2. ^ "Palestinian Authority premier Salam Fayyad gives up finance post". Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2012
  3. ^ "Fayyad replaced as finance minister in reshuffle". JMCC, 16 May 2012
  4. ^ "New Palestinian government angers Hamas". ABC News. 17 May 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d Who are the members of the new Palestinian government?. Ma'an News Agency, 19 May 2009
  6. ^ a b Palestinian National Authority Council of Ministers 19 May 2009. Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. Archived on 5 October 2011
  7. ^ "New Palestinian government angers Hamas". ABC News. 17 May 2012.