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09-28-2003, 02:43 AM
Yasser Arafat's Fatah party on Saturday put together the new Palestinian Cabinet, replacing a US-backed security chief with an Arafat loyalist and bringing in nearly a dozen new faces from Fatah and smaller factions.
With the ouster of security chief Mohammed Dahlan, it appears even less likely that the Palestinian security forces will begin dismantling militant groups, as required by the US-backed "road map" peace plan. Israel has said it will not move on the plan unless such action is taken.
In the Gaza Strip, about 1,000 Dahlan supporters staged a protest, burning pictures of Fatah officials.
The remaining one to three slots will be filled in coming days, and the Cabinet then will be presented to the Palestinian parliament for approval, the officials said.
In a reflection of Arafat's sway over the process, a longtime ally, Maj. Gen. Nasser Yousef, was named to the post of interior minister, putting him in charge of the security forces, Palestinian officials said.
Outgoing Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas had held the title of interior minister in his government, but the security chief in effect was Dahlan, who in the past enjoyed US support, even though he also backed away from cracking down on militants.
Under the new arrangement, Arafat heads a 12-member national security council that will set policy and work with the interior minister. Yousef has worked with Arafat for nearly four decades.
Several Arafat supporters, including Yasser Abed Rabbo and Saeb Erekat, were brought back into the Cabinet, after Abbas kept them out of his government.
Two ministers with international support, Nabil Shaath and Salam Fayad, kept their jobs as foreign and finance ministers, respectively. Fatah named several younger leaders to the Cabinet. Several smaller factions were also represented, though major opposition groups, particularly the Islamic militant Hamas, stuck to their refusal to join the Palestinian Authority.
Israel has said it would not deal with an Arafat-controlled Cabinet. However, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview Friday with the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot that Qureia will be judged on his deeds.
With the ouster of security chief Mohammed Dahlan, it appears even less likely that the Palestinian security forces will begin dismantling militant groups, as required by the US-backed "road map" peace plan. Israel has said it will not move on the plan unless such action is taken.
In the Gaza Strip, about 1,000 Dahlan supporters staged a protest, burning pictures of Fatah officials.
The remaining one to three slots will be filled in coming days, and the Cabinet then will be presented to the Palestinian parliament for approval, the officials said.
In a reflection of Arafat's sway over the process, a longtime ally, Maj. Gen. Nasser Yousef, was named to the post of interior minister, putting him in charge of the security forces, Palestinian officials said.
Outgoing Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas had held the title of interior minister in his government, but the security chief in effect was Dahlan, who in the past enjoyed US support, even though he also backed away from cracking down on militants.
Under the new arrangement, Arafat heads a 12-member national security council that will set policy and work with the interior minister. Yousef has worked with Arafat for nearly four decades.
Several Arafat supporters, including Yasser Abed Rabbo and Saeb Erekat, were brought back into the Cabinet, after Abbas kept them out of his government.
Two ministers with international support, Nabil Shaath and Salam Fayad, kept their jobs as foreign and finance ministers, respectively. Fatah named several younger leaders to the Cabinet. Several smaller factions were also represented, though major opposition groups, particularly the Islamic militant Hamas, stuck to their refusal to join the Palestinian Authority.
Israel has said it would not deal with an Arafat-controlled Cabinet. However, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview Friday with the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot that Qureia will be judged on his deeds.