Gaza - Ma‘an - UPDATED - The cabinet for the forthcoming Palestinian unity government is expected to be announced on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. Ma‘an has learned the names of all the candidates. They are as follows:
- Prime Minister: Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas)
- Deputy Prime Minister: Azzam Al-Ahmad (Fatah)
- Minister of Labour: Mahmoud Al-"Aalool (Fatah)
- Minister of Prisoners‘ Affairs: Suleiman Abu Sneina
- Minister of Health: Radwan Al-Akhras
- Minister of Tourism: Ms. Khulood Da‘ibis
- Minister of Transportation: Sa‘di Al-Kurunz (Fatah)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs: Ziad Abu Amr (Independent)
- Minister of Culture: Bassam As-Salhi (Palestinian People"s Party)
- Minister of Finance: Salam Fayyad (Third Way)
- Minister of Interior: Hani Al-Qawasmi (Independent)
- Minister of Information: Mustafa Al-Barghouthi (Palestinian National Initiative)
- Minister of Social Affairs: Salih Zeidan (DFLP)
- Minister of Public Works: Samih Al-‘Abid
- Minister of Education: Nasser Addin Ash-Sha‘er (Hamas, previously Minister of Education)
- Minister of Telecommunications: Yousef Al-Mansi
- Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs: Suleiman Al-Shandi
- Minister of Planning and International Cooperation: Samir Abu Aisha (Hamas, previously Minister of Planning)
- Minister of Local Governance: Muhammad Al-Barghouthi (Hamas, previously Minister of Labour)
- Minister of Youth and Sports: Bassem Naim (Hamas, previously Minister of Health)
- Minister of Justice: Ali Al-Sartawi
- Minister of Agriculture: Muhammad Al-‘Agha (previously Minister of Agriculture)
- Minister of National Economy: Ziad Al-Thatha (Hamas, previously Minister of Transportation)
- Minister of State: Wasfi Qabha (Hamas, previously Minister of Prisoners‘ Affairs)
Minister of Women‘s Affairs: To Be Announced
The acting speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Dr Ahmad Bahar has called a session on Saturday at 11am in Ramallah, in the central West Bank and in Gaza City through video conference, to vote on confidence for the new government.
The spokesperson of the interim Palestinian government, Ghazi Hamad, said on Wednesday that the designate Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, has sent a letter to the acting speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Dr Ahmad Bahar, asking for the PLC to conduct a vote of confidence on Saturday for the new unity government.
In his letter, Haniyeh confirmed that the government is committed to endeavoring to release the speaker of the PLC, Dr Aziz Dweik, and the other detained members and ministers.
The new Palestinian unity government will be the 11th Palestinian government.
Photo: Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (C) smiles as he stands among his lineup of cabinet ministers of the new unity government in Gaza March 15, 2007. (Suhaib Salem/Reuters)