Prefer Jewish News on Google
Abbas ally appointed new Palestinian Authority prime minister
President makes Mohammad Shtayyeh, a Fatah Party insider, the new head of the government in the West Bank
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed a Fatah Party insider who was educated abroad as prime minister.
Mohammad Shtayyeh, a longtime Abbas ally, was announced on Sunday as the new prime minister. He replaces Rami Hamdallah, who had been prime minister since 2014.
Shtayyeh, a member of the central committee of the Palestinian president’s Fatah party, will form a new government.
An economist, Shtayyeh earned a PhD in development at Sussex University in Britain in the 1980s.
He served as a peace negotiator for the Palestinians with Israel in 1991 and again in 2013-14 and is a supporter of the two-state solution. He has also expressed criticism of the terror organisation Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
His appointment comes after multiple attempts for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas have failed. It is seen as an attempt to further isolate Hamas.
Hamas announced Sunday it will not recognise Shtayyeh’s authority because, it reportedly said, he was appointed without national consensus.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
