DOCSLIB.ORG

Economic Cooperation and Development Review

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Economic Cooperation and Development Review E c o n o m i c C o o p e r a t i o n Review Economic Cooperation a n d a n d D evelopment D eve l o p m e n t VOL . 7 NO. 1 APRIL 2014 R ev i ew K Y M C C M Y K Vol .7 N o . 1 April 2014 1 April Organisation of Islamic Cooperation STATISTICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH Statistical Economic and Social Research AND TRAINING CENTRE FOR ISLAMIC COUNTRIES and Training Centre for Islamic Countries Kudüs Cad. No:9 Diplomatik Site 06450 ORAN-Ankara, Turkey (SESRIC) Tel: (90-312) 468 61 72-76 Fax: (90-312) 468 57 26 Email: [email protected] Web: www.sesric.org E conomic C ooperation and Development Review VOL.7 NO.1 APRIL 2014 Statistical Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) SESRIC Economic Cooperation and Development Review worthy partner in the promotion of world peace, development and security. Considering this fact, he put a special emphasis on areas such as preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts; fostering sustainable economic growth and development; combating xenophobia and Islamophobia through promoting tolerance and understanding; and intensifying international partnerships for development as the top priorities on the OIC agenda. Another critical priority for the OIC was pointed out to be the liberation of occupied Palestinian and Arab territories from Israel and the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. He added that progress in all these areas is essential to enable the OIC Member States address their developmental Prof. Savaş Alpay challenges such as poverty, unemployment, Director General, SESRIC public health, environmental degradation and climate change. n the present issue of the Economic Today, empowerment of women in all fields of Cooperation and Development Review, we social and economic life is gaining importance Ihave the privilege of publishing a timely from the perspectives of both socio-economic interview with H.E. Iyad Ameen Madani, development and human rights. Following Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic international commitments and guidelines, most Cooperation (OIC). H.E. Iyad Madani, who had of the development policies have already been been unanimously elected by all OIC Member based on the principle of incorporating the Countries as the new Secretary General, assumed priorities and needs of both women and men. In his duty on 1st January 2014. The interview particular, development policies emphasize the focused on the views of the Secretary General on enhancement of the involvement of women in a wide range of contemporary political, economic, cultural, social and political fields of economic, social and cultural challenges faced by life in order to offer equal opportunity for access the OIC Member Countries as well as the issues to all the benefits and services in the society. The that have high priority in his agenda in the short 12 Critical Areas of Concern identified in the and medium term. Among others, the interview Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, reflects the views of His Excellency Madani on which was adopted by the UN 4th World the issue of Palestine and the city of Al-Quds Al- Conference on Women in 1995 in China, Sharif, Islamophobia, and the role of the OIC in provided an international framework for action supporting and encouraging civil society on the advancement and empowerment of organizations to increase their effectiveness in women. Despite the efforts which have been coping with multifarious challenges and problems exerted so far, there is still a long way to go facing the Member Countries. regarding empowerment of women and integration of relevant policies at the operational His Excellency the Secretary General stated that level across all countries, particularly in the the OIC has today become a veritable actor and a developing regions. Economic Cooperation and Development Review SESRIC In this context, the article by Dr. Jim Yong Kim, governance environment. The report shows that, the President of the World Bank Group titled on average, the OIC member countries lag “Four Myths about Gender and Development” behind the average of both other developing and co-authored with Ms. Jeni Klugman, countries and the world in each of these three Director of Gender and Development at the main dimensions. The EEI overall average score World Bank, looks at a series of key myths of the OIC group is far below the averages of around girls’ education, female labour force other developing countries and the world. This participation, glass ceilings in the corporate implies that OIC member countries need to make world, and violence against women. It underlines more efforts towards improving their socio- the importance of reliable empirical evidence and economic, socio-cultural and governance studies, and argues that stronger and sustained environment to ensure a more enabling efforts are still needed to ensure that women and environment for enhancing the functionality of girls have equal access to health services, civil society organizations and, thus, their education, technology, jobs and other services positive impact on our societies. and rights. This, according to the article, could help end hunger and poverty for millions of The contemporary practice of Islamic banking people. and finance is now over 30 years old. Islamic Finance has rapidly transformed in the last The impact of civil society organizations on decade to become internationally recognised and governments and citizens has become recently accepted as a competitive and robust form of more significant worldwide. Well-structured civil financial intermediation across the world. The society organizations provide benefit to societies global Islamic finance industry continues to in different ways such as providing constructive experience double digit growth rates of around criticisms to governments in reshaping their 17%, with global Islamic finance assets being policies or being a platform for delivering the estimated at USD1.8 trillion in 2013 compared to message of underrepresented citizens (such as USD$1.5 trillion in 2012. As the Islamic Finance women and the elderly) on different issues. Over industry continues its fast-track growth the last few decades, civil society organizations trajectory, an increasing number of academic have played an important role in increasing aid institutions as well as centres of excellence take effectiveness in least-developed and developing interest in this emerging area and contribute to its countries by complementing and enhancing the development through high-quality research. interactions between donor countries/institutions and aid receiving countries/institutions. The In this context, the present issue of Economic overall environment for civil society Cooperation and Development Review includes organizations are more favourable today, both at an article titled “Islamic Finance at Harvard” by national and international level, compared to the Dr. S. Nazim Ali, Director of the Islamic Finance 1980s and 1990s. Project at Harvard University. In his article, Dr. Ali draws attention to the growing involvement In a study conducted by SESRIC, the stance of of Harvard University in the development civil societies in 57 OIC member countries has process of Islamic finance. His article focuses on been examined through the analyses of the 2013 the Islamic Finance Project (IFP) which was version of the Enabling Environment Index (EEI) initiated by the Harvard University in 1995 of CIVICUS. According to the EEI, three main through its Center for Middle Eastern Studies factors affect citizens’ engagement in civil society (CMES). The article offers an overview of the activities and organizations: socio-economic major initiatives of the IFP since its environment, socio-cultural environment and establishment, including the IFP DataBank, SESRIC Economic Cooperation and Development Review Harvard University Forums on Islamic Finance, Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Jim Yong Kim, and Harvard-LSE Workshops. As he points out, President of the World Bank Group, Dr. S. the IFP, afforded the credibility by the academic Nazim Ali, Director of the Islamic Finance richness of Harvard, is ideally placed to Project at Harvard University, and to all other coordinate the research efforts in Islamic finance contributors to this issue of the Economic and to serve as a focal point for researchers from Cooperation and Development Review. all around the world. While wishing a pleasant and useful reading to all the readers, I would like to express my deep Prof. Savaş Alpay thanks and appreciation to H.E. Iyad Ameen Director General Madani, Secretary General of the Organisation of S E S R I C Economic Cooperation and Development Review SESRIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND FACE TO FACE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW Interview with H.E. Iyad Ameen Madani April 2014 Secretary General of the OIC Volume 7 No. 1 Editor-in-Chief Prof. Savaş Alpay Editorial Committee Nabil Dabour Hüseyin Hakan Eryetli Kenan Bağc ARTICLES Atilla Karaman Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk Dr. Jim Yong Kim President of the World Bank Graphics Editor Savaş Pehlivan ISSN 1308-7819 Photo Credits worldbank.org wikimedia.org, flickr.com, unctad.org, undp.org, satrapia.com, un.org.al, Dr. S. Nazim Ali news.az, wikipedia.org, Arab News, Director, Islamic Finance Project, Islamic Legal worldbulletin.net, AFP, New Vision Studies Program, Harvard Law School, Harvard comsaudigazette.com, The Maghreb Daily, University African Manager, New York Times, Asian Arab News, afriquejet.com, New Europe, Issuu.com,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Situation of Workers of the Occupied Arab Territories
    ILC.106/DG/APP International Labour Conference, 106th Session, 2017 Report of the Director-General Appendix The situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories International Labour Office, Geneva ISBN 978-92-2-130555-2 (print) ISBN 978-92-2-130556-9 (Web pdf) ISSN 0074-6681 First edition 2017 The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the International Labour Office, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. ILO publications and digital products can be obtained through major booksellers and digital distribution platforms, or ordered directly from [email protected]. For more information, visit our website: www.ilo.org/publns or contact [email protected]. Formatted by TTE: Confrep-ILC106(2017)-DG-APPENDIX-[CABIN-170418-1]-En.docx Printed by the International Labour Office, Geneva, Switzerland Preface In accordance with the mandate given by the International Labour Conference, I again sent this year a mission to prepare a report on the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories. The mission visited the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan. The mission leader met in Cairo with the Director- General of the Arab Labour Organization and representatives of the League of Arab States.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel and the Occupied Territories 2015 Human Rights Report
    ISRAEL 2015 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Israel is a multiparty parliamentary democracy. Although it has no constitution, the parliament, the unicameral 120-member Knesset, has enacted a series of “Basic Laws” that enumerate fundamental rights. Certain fundamental laws, orders, and regulations legally depend on the existence of a “state of emergency,” which has been in effect since 1948. Under the Basic Laws, the Knesset has the power to dissolve the government and mandate elections. The nationwide Knesset elections in March, considered free and fair, resulted in a coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security services. (An annex to this report covers human rights in the occupied territories. This report deals with human rights in Israel and the Israeli- occupied Golan Heights.) During the year according to Israeli Security Agency (ISA, also known as Shabak) statistics, Palestinians committed 47 terror attacks (including stabbings, assaults, shootings, projectile and rocket attacks, and attacks by improvised explosive devices (IED) within the Green Line that led to the deaths of five Israelis and one Eritrean, and two stabbing terror attacks committed by Jewish Israelis within the Green Line and not including Jerusalem. According to the ISA, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militant groups fired 22 rockets into Israel and in 11 other incidents either planted IEDs or carried out shooting or projectile attacks into Israel and the Golan Heights. Further
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report #4
    Fellow engineers Annual Report #4 Program Name: Local Government & Infrastructure (LGI) Program Country: West Bank & Gaza Donor: USAID Award Number: 294-A-00-10-00211-00 Reporting Period: October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2014 Submitted To: Tony Rantissi / AOR / USAID West Bank & Gaza Submitted By: Lana Abu Hijleh / Country Director/ Program Director / LGI 1 Program Information Name of Project1 Local Government & Infrastructure (LGI) Program Country and regions West Bank & Gaza Donor USAID Award number/symbol 294-A-00-10-00211-00 Start and end date of project September 30, 2010 – September 30, 2015 Total estimated federal funding $100,000,000 Contact in Country Lana Abu Hijleh, Country Director/ Program Director VIP 3 Building, Al-Balou’, Al-Bireh +972 (0)2 241-3616 [email protected] Contact in U.S. Barbara Habib, Program Manager 8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 800, Silver Spring, MD USA +1 301 587-4700 [email protected] 2 Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations …………………………………….………… 4 Program Description………………………………………………………… 5 Executive Summary…………………………………………………..…...... 7 Emergency Humanitarian Aid to Gaza……………………………………. 17 Implementation Activities by Program Objective & Expected Results 19 Objective 1 …………………………………………………………………… 24 Objective 2 ……………………................................................................ 42 Mainstreaming Green Elements in LGI Infrastructure Projects…………. 46 Objective 3…………………………………………………........................... 56 Impact & Sustainability for Infrastructure and Governance ……............
    [Show full text]
  • Briefing Notes 23 September 2013
    Information Centre Asylum and Migration Briefing Notes 23 September 2013 Afghanistan Attack on state representative On 15.09.13, a senior female criminal police officer was shot at by unknown gunmen in southern Helmand province. One day later, she died from her wounds. Her female predecessor had been assassinated in the same way. Women comprise no more than one percent of all Afghan police officers. They and their families are regularly threatened by Islamists. On 18.09.13. the head of the independent electoral commission for northern Kunduz province was shot dead by Taliban insurgents. After the beginning of the preparations for the presidential elections, the Taliban had announced attacks on election officials and organisers. Increase of attacks on aid organisation staff The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports a sharp increase in attacks on staff members of humanitarian and medical aid organisations. A total of 25 incidents have been reported, with eight people losing their lives. Most of the attacks on medical organisations and their workers have occurred in the eastern parts of the country, namely in Nangarhar, Laghman, Logar and Kunar provinces as well as in northern Balkh province. Other aspects of the security situation According to information provided by the German Federal Armed Forces, operations led by Afghan security forces have been carried out since 04.09.13 in the northern provinces of Badakhshan and Kunduz, aiming at pushing the rebels out of the area and securing their own mobility. On 18.09.13, a police unit ran into an ambush of the Taliban in northeastern Badakhshan province (Wardooj district), with approx.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel and the Middle East News Update
    Israel and the Middle East News Update Tuesday, April 12 Headlines: Police Looking to Grill Opposition Head Herzog in Graft Case Palestinian Leader Tightens Grip with New Decree From Israeli Jail, ‘Nonviolent’ Bid to ‘Free Palestine’ Takes Shape First Arab-Muslim to Be Promoted Commander in Israeli Police Israel Signals No Issue with Egypt’s Return of Islands to Saudi Arabia Five Jewish Youths Arrested for a Series of Hate Crimes on Palestinians IDF Said to Be Eyeing Purchase of ‘Suicide Drones’ Netanyahu: Israel Launched Dozens of Airstrikes on Hezbollah in Syria Commentary: Yedioth Ahronoth: “What Sharon Understood” By Sever Plocker, Chief Economic Editor, Yedioth Ahronoth Al-Monitor: “Interview with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah” By Daoud Kuttab, Media Activist and Palestine Pulse Columnist, Al-Monitor S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20004 www.centerpeace.org ● Yoni Komorov, Editor ● David Abreu, Associate Editor News Excerpts April 12, 2016 Times of Israel Police Looking to Grill Opposition Head Herzog in Graft Case Suspicions connecting Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog to election financing irregularities have moved forward, with police seeking to question the lawmaker under caution. Sources close to Herzog said the opposition leader, currently on an official visit to Germany, would cooperate fully with the probe. At the end of last month, Herzog was named as a second senior Israeli Knesset member suspected of graft, a day after Interior Minister Aryeh Deri — who spent several years in prison for embezzlement — revealed he was again at the center of a major corruption investigation.
    [Show full text]
  • Unlocking the Gaza Strip's Economic Potential and Fostering Political Stability. Europeans Should Seize the Opportunity Of
    Introduction Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs Comments Unlocking the Gaza Strip’s Economic Potential and Fostering Political Stability WP S Europeans Should Seize the Opportunity of the Rapprochement between Fatah and Hamas Omar Shaban Although the UN report of 2012 projected that Gaza would be uninhabitable by 2020, Gaza is likely to collapse into a state of chaos domestically and renewed military con- frontation with Israel much earlier. Gaza’s current reality is shaped by the aftermath of military clashes between Israel and Palestinian groups, the tightening of the blockade by Israel in 2007, the closure of the Rafah Crossing by Egypt, and the international com- munity’s no-contact policy towards Hamas. This has created a situation of isolation, in which the infrastructure as well as the social and political fabrics in the Gaza Strip have suffered. Gaza’s once export-oriented economy is now largely defunct, with the popula- tion impoverished and dependent on foreign aid. These factors pose serious threats to domestic stability, to Palestinian unity, and to the stability of the sub-region. Immedi- ate intervention by the EU is needed to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, advance Pales- tinian reconciliation, and lift the Israeli blockade. The current rapprochement between Fatah and Hamas offers opportunities for the Europeans to engage. Over the last 10 years, the Israeli-imposed sponse to its refusal to abide with the three blockade and the Palestinian factional divi- conditions set by the Middle East Quartet sion have strongly impacted Gaza’s economy (composed of the United States, Russia, the and society and have negatively affected UN, and the EU), that is, the recognition of the Palestinian national project.
    [Show full text]
  • European Commissioner Johannes Hahn Visits the Gaza and the West Bank
    Jerusalem 14.06.2016 European Commissioner Johannes Hahn visits the Gaza and the West Bank Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, visited Gaza and the West Bank today. Commissioner Hahn met President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, travelled to Gaza, and visited a number of EU-funded projects. The Commissioner concluded his visit by co- hosting an Iftar with the Ministry of Social Development at the SOS village in Bethlehem. Commissioner Hahn is responsible for deepening the EU's relations with neighbours of the EU to the south and east, in the EU's interest and in the interests of our partners. In this context, Commissioner Hahn oversees the EU's assistance to the Palestine people. The EU remains the largest donor to Palestine by providing approximately 300 million Euros annually. Commissioner Hahn started his visit from Gaza. He visited the EU-funded seawater desalination plant in southern Gaza. Commissioner Johannes Hahn signed with UNICEF a financing agreement for the second phase of the desalination plant for a total amount of 10 Million EUR. This brings the total EU investment in this plant to 20 Million Euros. Once the two phases are completed, the desalination plant will provide 12,000 cubic meters of with safe drinking water to 150,000 Palestinian in the Gaza Strip. The construction of the plant is carried out in partnership with UNICEF, the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and Gaza’s Coastal Municipalities Water Utilities (CMWU). The Commissioner then visited UNRWA headquarters in Gaza and was briefed there about UNRWA's efforts to promote economic development.
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Summer Intern MAL Agenda
    2014 Summer Intern MAL Agenda PLEASE NOTE: Questions about the Agenda may be directed to [email protected]. The countries to be represented in each Council is noted below – more information can be found on the SIMAL online registration form. Council on Arab Unity and Regional Development **Council consists of 22 Arab League member states** 1. Discussing a League-wide statement concerning the joint Fatah-Hamas Palestinian government, while considering prior commitments outlined by the Arab Peace Initiative 2. Exploring the effectiveness and feasibility of utilizing Arab League member state resources or other means to assist regional states in transition with economic growth and infrastructure initiatives 3. Promoting transparency and reducing official misconduct within and between League members in order to demonstrate Arab League commitment to the international rule of law to the global community Special Summit of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries **Council consists of 10 OAPEC member states** 1. Addressing disputes over acceptable levels of oil production and exportation and establishing broadly agreed-to standards thereof 2. Mitigating threats to the security of oil production in OAPEC member states, with special consideration of offshore oil rigs 3. Formulating comprehensive, long term strategies to utilize existing oil profits to diversify the economies of OAPEC member states to prepare for future economic realities Council for the Advancement of Women and Children ** Council consists of 22 Arab League member states** 1. Exploring possible solutions to increase female entrepreneurship throughout the region, including but not limited to the use of microloans, incentives, and subsidies 2. Developing programs to support women and children in non-traditional family circumstances, particularly widows and orphans 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2007/2008
    Annual Report 2007/2008 Building A Better Palestinian Future Published By: Public Relations Office/Birzeit University P.O.Box 14, Birzeit-Palestine Telefax: 00970/2 2 2982059 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.birzeit.edu Annual Report 2007/2008 CONTENTS Preface: ................................................ 5 International Cooperation ................. 41 − Official Visits .........................................................................42 President’s Massage: .......................... 7 − Cooperation Agreements by University Administration .....................................................................43 − Abbreviations and Acronyms ............ 9 Exchange Visits and Short – Term Activities .............46 − Joint International Projects (Long term) ....................53 − Grants and Scholarships to Faculty, The Year in Review 2007/2008 ...........13 Staff & Students ...................................................................57 Publications and Research .................19 Students Life at BZU ........................... 59 − Scientific Articles in Referenced Journals ..................20 − Student Council Elections ...............................................60 − Working Papers ...................................................................20 − Student Activities ...............................................................61 − Books .......................................................................................21 − Volunteer Work ....................................................................62
    [Show full text]
  • The Palestinian Quest for Reconciliation Can It Be Achieved?
    Policy Focus 2017-4 THE PALESTINIAN QUEST FOR RECONCILIATION CAN IT BE ACHIEVED? SUMMARY KEY POINTS After a new round of talks in Cairo, Palestinian Internal political divisions and overdue elections factions Fatah and Hamas have announced an have undermined the legitimacy of Palestinian initial, partial reconciliation agreement. Despite leaders, hampered internal Palestinian dialogue continuing obstacles, this latest attempt to reunify regarding the future of their national movement, the long-divided Palestinian political system shows and contributed to the cycle of Israel-Gaza signs of potential progress. Egypt is demonstrating wars. a new proactive willingness to mediate between President Sisi, who sees Palestinian unity as the Palestinian factions and work with Hamas, fundamental to resolving the wider conflict, is having forged a constructive relationship with showing renewed commitment to reconciliation. Yahia Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza. Nevertheless, obstacles to a deal remain, with The Palestinian factions must reach agreement both Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud on the status of Hamas’s controversial armed Abbas bluntly demanding the total disarmament group, the Qassam Brigades, as a key step of Hamas’s Qassam Brigades. It remains to be seen toward sharing political power. whether Egypt will be able to impose a settlement that leads to elections and the emergence of Hamas appears ready for partial compromise Palestinian leadership with a renewed democratic with Egypt and Fatah, and is willing to give up a mandate. modicum of control in Gaza.If President Abbas is perceived to be obstructing this Egyptian- backed effort, it could damage his relations with Cairo and open the door for exiled Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan to play a wider role in Gaza.
    [Show full text]
  • Security Council Provisional Seventy-Third Year
    United Nations S/ PV.8214 Security Council Provisional Seventy-third year 8214th meeting Monday, 26 March 2018, 10 a.m. New York President: Mr. Van Oosterom ............................... (Netherlands) Members: Bolivia (Plurinational State of) ..................... Mr. Inchauste Jordán China ......................................... Mr. Wu Haitao Côte d’Ivoire ................................... Mr. Dah Equatorial Guinea ............................... Mr. Ndong Mba Ethiopia ....................................... Mr. Alemu France ........................................ Mr. Delattre Kazakhstan .................................... Mr. Temenov Kuwait ........................................ Mr. Alotaibi Peru .......................................... Mr. Meza-Cuadra Poland ........................................ Ms. Wronecka Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Safronkov Sweden ....................................... Mr. Orrenius Skau United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Ms. Pierce United States of America .......................... Mr. Miller Agenda The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned
    [Show full text]
  • From the Urdu Press No
    From the Urdu Press No. 92 1-15 June 2014 2-16 Shabaan 1435 Hijri [Note: Using editorials as an indicator, this series presents views, understanding and attitude of the Urdu periodicals in India towards various developments concerning the Middle East. The selection of an item does not mean the endorsement or concurrence with their accuracy or views. Editor, MEI@ND The Etemaad Urdu Daily (The Confidence Urdu Daily), Hyderabad Editorial, 5 June 2014, Thursday 1. Fatah-Hamas Coalition Government he formation a unity government in Palestine has ended the seven year-long fight between Fatah and Hamas. The oath-of-office for the new government was telecasted T live in both West bank and Gaza Strip and PA President Mahmoud Abbas said on the occasion that a dark page in history of Palestine is now over. The 2006 parliamentary elections had led to problems as Hamas has gained majority in Gaza. Thus, it formed government in the Gaza and expelled Fatah from the Strip. Later Fatah had taken control of West Bank. The new unity government has declared Gaza to be it headquarters. The US and Israel are trying to see whether Hamas members are part of the government because they, along with many European countries, have declared it to be a terrorist organization. Rami Hamdallah has taken over as Prime Minister of the newly formed government while 17 cabinet ministers have taken the oath-of-office and all are technocrats. Three members of the newly appointed cabinet could not participate in the oath ceremony because Israel has imposed travel restrictions between Gaza and West Bank.
    [Show full text]