In response to pressure from the United States to restructure the Palestine Authority as part of Washington’s postwar plan for Gaza, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas named his longstanding economic advisor as the country’s next prime minister.
Economist and political independent Mohammad Mustafa, trained in the United States, will lead a technocratic administration in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that may rule Gaza prior to its ultimate independence. However, there are significant barriers in the way of such plans, such as Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who is adamantly opposed, and the ongoing, seemingly never-ending Israel-Hamas conflict.
Whether the 88-year-old president would retain ultimate authority and the nomination of a new Cabinet headed by a close supporter of Abbas would be enough to fulfil US demands for change is a matter of debate.
Palestine political expert Hani al- Masri argues that change desired by the US and other countries is not necessarily what Palestinian citizens want, stating that they seek genuine political change.
“A respected and educated man,” he added, Mr. Mustafa would find it difficult to accommodate popular demands for better circumstances in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli limitations imposed since the beginning of the conflict have created an economic catastrophe.
In a statement announcing the nomination, Mr. Abbas requested that Mr. Mustafa developed strategies to lead changes in the government, security services, and economy, combat corruption, and reunite administration in Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed US-educated economist Muhammad Mustafa as the next prime minister, amid US pressure to reform the Palestinian Authority.
Mustafa will lead a technocratic government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, potentially administering Gaza before statehood. However, the plans face opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Washington welcomed Mustafa’s appointment but urged him to form a Cabinet to implement changes.
Mustafa, born in 1954, holds a doctorate in business administration and economics from George Washington University, has held senior positions at the World Bank, and currently serves as the president of the Palestine Investment Fund.
“A respected and educated man,” he added, “Mr. Mustafa would find it difficult to accommodate popular demands for better circumstances in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli limitations imposed since the beginning of the conflict have created an economic catastrophe”.
Mustafa, a business administration and economics expert, is the president of the Palestine Investment Fund. Israel’s suspension of levies and customs duties has led to budget issues. The US seeks a reformed Dad to expand its writ to postwar Gaza, but Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood. Palestinians desire all three homes to form their unborn state, as Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem in 1967.
Netanyahu pledges to dismantle Hamas and maintain open-ended security control over Gaza following the October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, and the subsequent Israeli invasion, resulting in over 31,000 Palestinian deaths.
The Palestinian Authority has stated it will not return to Gaza using an Israeli tank, but will only take control of the territory as part of a comprehensive conflict resolution.
