September 15, 2003. Copyright, 2003, Graphic News. All rights reserved

New Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei faces unenviable task
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, September 15, Graphic News:  In his new role as Palestinian prime minister designate, Ahmed Qurei has hit the ground running. His acceptance of the post comes amid escalating violence in the Middle East, and though he has yet to be formally installed, there is a sense that his time is already running out.

Initially, Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, had said he would accept the job only if the U.S. guaranteed Israeli compliance with its ÒroadmapÓ for peace Ð U.S. failure to do this was cited among chief reasons for the early departure of his predecessor Mahmoud Abbas. In the end, however, fears that Israel would exploit the power vacuum rushed him into a decision.

As parliamentary speaker and number three in the Fatah party, Qurei witnessed first hand the animosity between Abbas and Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. He knows he must maintain a good relationship with the veteran PLO leader yet wrest control of the security forces to crack down on Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants if his position is remain tenable.

He has several things in his favour: he is among the few Palestinians who have the trust of Arafat and are taken seriously by the Israelis, a fact often attributed to his tolerant, easygoing nature. He is friends with several Israeli officials and once credited Shimon Peres with saving his life after he suffered a heart attack at the negotiating table in 1995. Despite this, however, his appointment has been greeted less than warmly in both Jerusalem and Washington.

Soon after he was nominated, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Qurei had EU backing because he was Òa man who believes in peace in IsraelÓ. He played a key role in the talks leading to the 1993 Oslo accord, which led to autonomy for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and worked hard to retain gains from the deal. He also helped to design the Palestinian Economic Council, an organisation channelling international capital.

Born in 1937 in Abu Dis, Jerusalem, Qurei joined the Fatah party soon after it was formed in 1965, and rose through its ranks in the 1970s when he took over economic and production enterprises in Lebanon. He was elected to the partyÕs central committee in 1989 and in 1994 returned from exile in Tunisia with Arafat. In 1996 he was appointed parliamentary speaker.

In his tours of Palestinian camps, Qurei has earned a reputation as a good listener. Yet his power base is believed to centre on the structures of the Palestinian National Authority and the new prime minister might like to start by repairing the damage done to these by Israeli incursions.

He may not get the chance. In discussing the Palestinian leadership crisis, Fatah member Halem Abdul Khader was quoted as saying: ÒWe could resurrect Mother Teresa from her grave and ask her to be prime minister but she would run into a dead end dealing with Sharon.Ó On the other side, there are many who believe Middle East peace has no chance until Arafat is off the scene.

And indeed, within days of accepting the post Qurei announced he was suspending his bid to form a new government, saying that IsraelÕs decision to ÒremoveÓ Mr Arafat threatened the stability of the entire region.

This is the reality Qurei now faces.
/ENDS