Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinians, appointed his longtime ally, Mahmoud Abbas, as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official, stated today that Mr. Arafat sent a letter to Mahmoud Abbas asking him to form a new government. If Mr. Abbas accepts this position, he will have five weeks to form a government. Yasser Arafat only agreed to share power under intense international pressure. The Palestinian parliament approved the creation of the new prime minister position with powers and authorities much greater and broader than what Mr. Arafat had wanted, with 69 votes in favor and one against. The Bush administration called this move a positive step but simultaneously expressed a preference for even greater powers for the new Palestinian Prime Minister. Meanwhile, during renewed violence near the city of Jenin in the West Bank, a Jewish settler was killed by Palestinian attackers who ambushed him in his car.
Appointment of Mahmoud Abbas as Prime Minister by Yasser Arafat - 2003-03-19
Yasser Arafat appointed Mahmoud Abbas as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority amid international pressure for power-sharing. The Palestinian parliament approved the new position with expanded powers, which the Bush administration viewed positively but desired even more authority for Abbas. This development is significant as it reflects ongoing tensions and violence in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Yasser Arafat appointed Mahmoud Abbas as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority amid international pressure for power-sharing. The Palestinian parliament approved the new position with expanded powers, which the Bush administration viewed positively but desired even more authority for Abbas.
- Arafat appointed Abbas under intense international pressure.
- The Palestinian parliament approved the new prime minister position with a significant majority.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Palestinian Authority has faced internal divisions and external pressures, particularly from Israel and the U.S., regarding governance and peace negotiations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%