New Palestinian PM retracts his resignationJune 22, 2013 - 09:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has retracted his resignation on Friday, June 21 evening, after a meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, a PA official told the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency, according to The Jerusalem Post. The two met after attempts on Thursday night by Abbas' top aide to persuade Hamdallah not to resign were unsuccessful. Hamdallah abruptly submitted his resignation on Thursday after less than a month on the job. Despite confirmation from the PA source, an official announcement has not been issued yet, and Hamdallah did not talk to any of the reporters waiting outside the meeting, Ma'an reported. Hamdallah, who until recently was president of An-Najah University in Nablus, offered his resignation even though Palestinians were still publishing advertisements in the media congratulating him and his new ministers. A source close to Hamdallah said he submitted his letter of resignation to Hussein al- A’raj, director of the PA president’s bureau. The source attributed the move to a power struggle between Hamdallah and his two deputies – Muhammad Mustafa and Ziad Abu Amr – who were appointed by Abbas. “The prime minister feels that his deputies have been encroaching on his powers,” the source said. A senior PA official told Ma’an that Hamdallah had not clashed with Abbas. The real dispute was between Hamdallah and his two deputies, the official said. Another PA source said that Hamdallah, whom Abbas appointed on June 2, quickly found himself in the same situation as his predecessor Salam Fayyad. “Hamdallah discovered that the president wants him to serve as a yes-man with no powers,” the source explained. “Abbas wanted a prime minister who would play no role and only carry out orders from the president’s office.” Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |