Muhammad Mustafa is a well-known businessman and maintains an excellent relationship with the Palestinian President. Abbas had asked him a few weeks ago to form a government in order to reform the Palestinian Authority that governs the West Bank, according to international expectations.
Ironically, this move failed to meet international expectations: the Palestinian Authority has been the subject of most criticism in recent years (along with boundless corruption) precisely because President Abbas, in power since 2005, appoints or dismisses members of the government. According to his wish. Parliamentary elections have been postponed since 2006 for various reasons.
Mustafa is also responsible for the aid that West Bank Palestinians send to the Gaza Strip, and will also be responsible for the reconstruction of the Strip. The aim of his appointment was to form a government acceptable to the international community and capable of curbing corruption through its reforms.
The Minister of Finance in Mustafa's government will be financial expert Omar Al-Bitar, and the Minister of Economy will be Muhammad Al-Amour, former president of the Palestinian Businessmen Association. Ziad Habb Al-Rih, former head of the Internal Security Service in the Hope Alliance, will be Minister of Interior.
Cover image source: Christoph Sweder/Image Alliance via Getty Images
