In a difficult time for the Palestinian people while Gaza is under war and siege, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed economic advisor Mohammad Mustafa to form the nineteenth government last night. Who is this man that the White House welcomed his appointment?
Mustafa, 69 years old, is considered an independent economic figure politically. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy in the national consensus government formed in 2014 with Hamas, serving in that position for one year. He played a key role in launching the Gaza Reconstruction Program in 2014 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He also held the position of Chairman of the Board of the Palestinian Investment Fund.
Mustafa has international experience, having worked at the World Bank in Washington for fifteen years. Additionally, he was an economic advisor to the Kuwaiti government regarding economic reforms and served as a visiting professor at George Washington University.
In this context, political science and economics professor Abdul Majid Sweilem considered Mustafa’s appointment a "form of fortification that Abbas wanted in facing national challenges from the Israeli right that targets everything Palestinian." He viewed it as "an attempt to rebuild national identity and close some gaps within the Palestinian Authority," noting that "the president is besieged and under pressure" from both Israel and Washington. He stated that the appointed Prime Minister is "acceptable to the Americans as he follows a liberal approach."
Palestinian economic expert Mohammad Abu Jiyab told Reuters: "Everyone is in a crisis, Fatah in the West Bank is in a crisis, and Hamas is also in Gaza," adding that Mustafa could represent the exit for both factions.
It is noteworthy that Mustafa’s appointment comes following the resignation of former Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh less than 20 days ago, amid repeated American calls for reform within the Palestinian Authority. He will face a significant administrative and diplomatic task, as large areas of Gaza have turned to rubble, and most of its 2.3 million residents are displaced and in need of assistance.
The Palestinian Authority, established three decades ago under the interim peace agreement known as the Oslo Accords, exercises limited governance over parts of the occupied West Bank. However, it may play a crucial role in managing Gaza once the war ends, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing strong opposition to its involvement in administering the territory. Meanwhile, relations between the authority, led by Abbas’s Fatah movement, have long been strained with Hamas, which governs Gaza. The two factions fought a brief war before Fatah was expelled from the territory in 2007. Nevertheless, the Palestinian Authority has repeatedly condemned the Israeli attack on the territory and insists on playing a role in Gaza's management after the war.
