(Scypre.com) – The head of the Palestinian Authority’s government, Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, along with his cabinet, has officially tendered their resignations. This move was publicly disclosed by Shtayyeh himself through a statement shared on Facebook. In this announcement, he expressed his action of offering the resignation to Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, initially verbally last Tuesday and subsequently in a formal written format.
This development occurs amidst a period of heightened scrutiny from the United States towards the Palestinian Authority, urging it to undertake significant reforms and enhance its governance within the territories under Israeli occupation in the West Bank. Both American policymakers and the Palestinian populace have frequently criticized the Palestinian Authority for perceived corruption.
Established in the 1990s as a provisional administration with the aim of leading to Palestinian independence, the Palestinian Authority emerged from the signing of the Oslo Accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel. It is based in Ramallah, a city within the occupied West Bank, and has limited self-governance over specific areas of the territory.
Historically, the government, predominantly led by the Fatah political party, managed the Gaza Strip until 2007. This control shifted following the victory of Hamas in the 2006 legislative elections within the occupied territories, which led to Fatah’s expulsion from Gaza. The idea of the Palestinian Authority’s return to governance in Gaza post-conflict, as well as the establishment of a Palestinian state encompassing these territories, has been dismissed by Israel. Nevertheless, the United States supports the notion of a reformed Palestinian Authority overseeing both the West Bank and Gaza as constituents of a prospective independent state.
Shtayyeh, who assumed the prime ministerial role in 2019, has voiced concerns regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly highlighting the indispensable role of the United States in any potential resolution. However, he has critiqued the current U.S. administration for lacking the political determination to conclusively address the conflict, instead opting to merely manage the situation.
The popularity of the Palestinian Authority among the Palestinian population is notably low, with many perceiving it as ineffective in ensuring security amidst frequent Israeli military activities in the West Bank. A poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in December revealed a stark disillusionment with the Authority, with over 60% of Palestinians advocating for its dissolution. Additionally, support for President Abbas, in office since 2005, has significantly waned, with a staggering 92% of respondents from the West Bank desiring his resignation.
The establishment of the prime ministerial position within the Palestinian Authority dates back to 2003, a response to calls for reform from the United States, the European Union, and Israel following the Second Palestinian Intifada. This marked a pivotal shift towards power-sharing initiated by then-President Yasser Arafat, who appointed Abbas as the first prime minister. Abbas later succeeded Arafat as president following his death in 2004, continuing the legacy of leadership within the Palestinian Authority.