Ramallah: Fatah and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) are seeking to reshuffle the Palestinian consensus government led by Rami Al Hamdallah in what has been described as a cover for the failure of the reconciliation between Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas.
According to Amin Maqboul, the undersecretary of Fatah Revolutionary Council, the government reshuffle will be announced shortly.
At least five or six ministers will be replaced but Al Hamdallah will remain the premier of the Palestinian consensus government.
“A government reshuffle will cause yet another problem between the two Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas,” warned Talal Okal, a political analyst. “Hamas’ approval for any government reshuffle is a must and unless this approval is secured, conditions will deteriorate further.”
Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have been at odds, mainly over the issue of Gazan public employees hired by the Islamist movement after 2007. Hamas insists on including them on the payroll, while Fatah is against it.
“A government reshuffle could promt Hamas to withdraw its recognition of the consensus government,” Okal said.
