Second Qurei Government

Pursuant to the Oslo Accords and the Gaza–Jericho Agreement, the Palestinian Authority had limited powers to some civil rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank Areas A and B and in the Gaza Strip, and to internal security in Area A and in Gaza.

On 6 September 2003, Mahmoud Abbas resigned as Prime Minister and President Arafat asked Ahmed Qurei to become PM of an emergency government.[http://news.sky.com/story/208841/us-warning-as-qurei-accepts-pms-role US Warning As Qurei Accepts PM's Role]. Sky News, 10 September 2003 Following a suicide bombing in Haifa on 4 October, Israel threatened to "remove" Arafat and urged him to act within 48 hours.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/07/israel Arafat swears in Palestinian cabinet]. Guardian, 7 October 2003.
"In response, Israeli officials threatened to hasten action to "remove" Mr Arafat and warned that a decision might depend on Palestinian action in the ensuing 48 hours."

The next day, on 5 October 2003, Arafat installed, by presidential decree, an eight-member emergency government headed by Qurei.[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/08/world/arafat-swears-in-new-palestinian-cabinet.html Arafat Swears In New Palestinian Cabinet]. Greg Myre, The New York Times, 8 October 2003.
"Mr. Qurei was nominated a month ago, but has been unable to assemble a full cabinet, with more than 20 ministers, to present to parliament. The emergency regulations give him a month before he has to seek a vote of confidence from the legislature."[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-08-fg-mideast8-story.html Arafat Swears in Emergency Cabinet]. Megan K. Stack, Los Angeles Times, 8 October 2003.
"But Arafat caught even the ministers off guard by declaring a state of emergency throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip after the latest bombing. Korei and his stripped-down Cabinet of eight ministers were hastily summoned." Arafat and Qurei disagreed as to who was to be Interior Minister in the next government. Qurei wanted General Nasser Yousef, while Arafat preferred Hakam Balawi.[https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-23-a-2003-11-16-1-1-83114722/121058.html In the News-New Palestinian Government]. Voice of America, 15 November 2003. On 4 November, the term of the emergency cabinet expired. Hours before the 30-day term expired at midnight, Arafat transformed the Cabinet into a caretaker government.[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-11/05/content_278561.htm Palestinian PM misses deadline for new cabinet]. Agencies/China Daily, 5 November 2003

On 12 November 2003, a new 24-member government was presented to the Palestinian Legislative Council and approved with 46 votes to 13, and 5 abstentions.[http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/12/palestinian.gov/ New Palestinian government approved]. CNN, 12 November 2003. Balawi was Interior Minister.

On 17 July 2004, Qurei submitted his resignation amid growing chaos in the Gaza Strip.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3922537.stm Arafat denies he is facing crisis]. BBC, 24 July 2004 Offices of the Palestinian authority in Gaza were burned down, and gunmen briefly abducted four French aid workers, the police chief and another official, demanding reforms. Arafat refused to accept Qurei's resignation.[http://mg.co.za/article/2004-07-18-arafat-refuses-qorei-resignation Arafat refuses Qorei resignation]. Sapa-AFP, 18 July 2004 Arafat and Qurei disagreed on Qurei's demand for more authority to restructure and control the Palestinian Security Services to reduce the growing turmoil. Denying the demand, Arafat decreed a state of emergency in Gaza,[http://news.sky.com/story/283586/state-of-emergency-declared-in-gaza State Of Emergency Declared In Gaza]. Sky News, 18 July 2004 and Qurei retracted his resignation. On 27 July, Arafat and Qurei held a press conference after reaching a settlement in a cabinet meeting.

After Arafat's death in November 2004 and Mahmoud Abbas' subsequent victory in the Palestinian presidential election in January 2005, Qurei was asked to continue in his post as caretaker prime minister and form a new government. The next government was formed on 24 February 2005, also headed by Qurei.

November 2003 to February 2005 [https://web.archive.org/web/20031203022645/http://www.jmcc.org/politics/pna/pagovnov03.htm The PA Ministerial Cabinet List November 2003] Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre. Archived on 3 December 2003

• Palestinian government

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• [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/06/mideast/ Palestinian prime minister Abbas resigns]. CNN, 6 September 2003

{{Palestinian governments}}

Qurei 02

Category:2003 establishments in Palestine

Category:2005 disestablishments in Palestine

Category:Cabinets established in 2003

Category:Cabinets disestablished in 2005