The new Palestinian Authority government, recently sworn in by President Mahmoud Abbas, has raised concerns due to the extreme and racist views of at least two ministers within the government. Palestinian Media Watch has revealed that the Minister of Religious Affairs, Muhammad Mustafa Najem, openly incites violence against Israelis and characterizes Jews as evil. Another member of the government, Minister of Women’s Affairs Muna Al-Khalili, has praised Palestinian terror and claimed that recent Hamas attacks were acts of legitimate resistance.
In the aftermath of attacks by Hamas and the ensuing war in Gaza, the U.S. has been urging Abbas to reform and revitalize his governing authority to be part of a solution for governing Gaza and the West Bank. The changes made by Abbas to the government have been seen as a step toward desired reformation by the U.S., but many Palestinians believe that no real change can occur as long as Abbas remains in power. Israeli leaders have also rejected the idea of involving the authority in a post-war solution for Gaza, citing issues similar to those seen in Hamas.
Experts, including a Palestinian affairs analyst and a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, do not believe that the new Palestinian Authority leadership will bring about significant changes as long as Abbas remains in charge. It is believed that the recent cabinet reshuffle was done to appease the U.S. administration rather than to introduce meaningful reforms or engage in a peace process with Israel. The appointment of Mohammed Mustafa is seen as maintaining the interests of Abbas rather than instituting reform.
While the U.S. has expressed a desire to work with the new Palestinian government to promote peace, security, and prosperity, critics argue that the government is not truly reformed as long as Abbas remains in power. The appointment of cronies of Abbas to key positions does not signal meaningful change, and the notion of the Palestinian Authority inheriting the Gaza Strip is seen as problematic. There are concerns that the focus on this objective is causing the administration to turn a blind eye to the radical views expressed by some members of the government, undermining the reform process. Ignoring these issues may lead to continued challenges in the region.
