Fayyad will not head Palestinian Authority

Fatah Central Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad has ruled out the possibility of re-commissioning outgoing Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to form a new government in the West Bank. Palestine’s leadership would instead announce a new cabinet “soon,” he said. Al-Ahmad has suggested final nominations for a new government would be resolved in the coming days and weeks. “No agreement has been reached so far on the name of the new prime minister.” Al-Ahmad, speaking exclusively to Arabstoday, has also restated his previous denial that the new government would be in any way linked to a planned national consensus government bringing together both Fatah and Hamas. Recent talks in Cairo ended with a pledge to form a new interfactional government within the next three months. “A new government in Ramallah wouldn’t hinder efforts for reconciliation,” he claimed. “There is a legal vacuum that cannot continue.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to announce a replacement for Fayyad soon.