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Palestinian Fayyad Rules Out Taking New PM Post
Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, tipped to become the first Palestinian Authority prime minister, said on Tuesday he had no intention of taking the post. "I'm not a candidate for this position," he told reporters before the start of talks between Palestinians, Israelis and international aid donors in London. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said on Friday he would appoint a prime minister as part of reforms sought by Palestinians and international mediators, but named no candidate or starting date."I'm a newcomer to the Palestinian Authority," Fayyad said. "There's no doubt in my mind there are others who have been there in public service who are more suitable for the job." "They've got seniority, and more guns and stuff!" It was also unclear how much authority Arafat would be willing to share with a prime minister running the daily affairs of a Palestinian Authority weakened by Israel's reoccupation of much of the West Bank in June after suicide attacks. Fayyad, who supports Palestinian reforms, did not say if he had been approached about taking the job, but insisted that his ruling himself out did not mean he intended to challenge Arafat or his Authority in other ways. "I will not be a candidate in any kind of framework that in any way runs contrary to the higher Palestinian interest...by possibly targeting to weaken the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, the elected leadership of President Arafat," he said. "Yassar, please, I don't want your job! Don't kill me!" Israel and the United States have refused to deal with Arafat and have called on Palestinians to replace him, saying he has not done enough to stop anti-Israeli violence or stamp out corruption in his Palestinian Authority. U.S. President George Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon want to sideline him after 28 months of conflict. Fayyad had appeared to be a likely candidate for the job, a position envisaged by a peace "roadmap" drafted by the so-called Quartet of U.S., European Union, U.N. and Russian negotiators. "I really don't want that job! At least, as long as Yassar's still breathing. Call me when he's dead, we'll have lunch" Posted by: Steve 2003-02-18 |
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