The first prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority was
Mahmoud Abbas. He was nominated on 19 March 2003 by President Arafat. On 29 April, the
Palestinian Legislative Council approved the appointment and
his government. Abbas's short term was marked by a power struggle with Arafat over control of the
Palestinian Security Services, with Arafat refusing to relinquish control to Abbas. The issue was critical because the
Roadmap for peace plan required the Palestinian side to stop violent attacks by various Palestinian militant groups, which Arafat refused to do. Abbas resigned as prime minister on 6 September 2003, citing lack of support from Israel and the United States as well as "internal incitement" against his government. Abbas was followed in the office by
Ahmed Qurei, who as Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council became acting prime minister. Arafat nominated Qurei for the post of prime minister, who agreed to form an "emergency government" on 10 September. The next day, Qurei decided to form a full government rather than a trimmed one. Arafat appointed Qurei Prime Minister on 5 October 2003 by presidential decree, and
Qurei's eight-member emergency government was sworn in on 9 October. The Fatah dominated PLC refused to a vote of confidence in the government. Arafat and Qurei were in a standoff over the division between them of security powers, essentially the issue of control of the Palestinian Security Services, which was the same issue that led to Abbas's resignation. Another issue was Arafat's opposition to Qurie's nomination of General Nasser Yousef as
Interior Minister who would control the security forces. On 12 November 2003, the caretaker government was replaced by
Qurei's 2003 government, which was confirmed by the PLC.
Hakam Balawi, described as an Arafat "loyalist", was appointed Interior Minister, with control of the security forces. After Arafat's death in November 2004 and Mahmoud Abbas' subsequent victory in the
Palestinian presidential election in January 2005, which was boycotted by
Hamas, Qurei was asked to continue in his post and form a new government, which took place on 24 February 2005. On 15 December 2005, Qurei resigned, and
Nabil Shaath, the deputy prime minister, became acting prime minister. He lost the position nine days later when Qurei returned to office. Hamas decisively won the
PLC election held on 25 January 2006. Qurei resigned, but at the request of President Abbas remained as interim prime minister until 19 February 2006.
Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas was nominated Prime Minister on 16 February 2006 and the new government was formally presented to Abbas on 20 February and the
government led by Haniyeh was sworn in on 29 March 2006. A struggle for power between President Abbas and the new government emerged over the
security services. Abbas made Fatah-affiliated Rashid Abu Shbak head of the three branches of the
Palestinian Security Services, with authority to hire and fire officers in the three security branches, bypassing the authority of the Hamas Interior Minister
Said Seyam. Abbas also ordered all diplomatic statements and dealings be coordinated with the Fatah-dominated
Palestine Liberation Organization, and not the Hamas Foreign Minister
Mahmoud Zahar. Haniyeh also led the
Unity Government formed on 17 March 2007, which was approved by the PLC. After the
Hamas takeover of Gaza, the government was dismissed by President Abbas on 14 June 2007. Abbas declared a
state of emergency and on 15 June appointed
an emergency caretaker government led by
Salam Fayyad and suspended articles of the Basic Law to dispense with the needed PLC approval. On 13 July 2007, the state of emergency expired in accordance with the Basic Law, and President Abbas issued a new decree to continue the state of emergency. The Fayyad government continued functioning as a caretaker government. On 22 July 2007, Prime Minister Fayyad presented his government for PLC approval. As the quorum requirement could not be met, as Hamas members were boycotting the PLC, the approval was given in "extraordinary" session. Meanwhile, Haniyeh and Hamas refused to accept the dismissal, and claimed to still be the legitimate government of the Palestinian Authority. The basis of the challenge was that under the Basic Law, the president may dismiss a sitting prime minister, but may not appoint a replacement without the approval of the PLC (which was controlled by Hamas), and that until a new prime minister is properly appointed, the outgoing prime minister heads a caretaker government. ==Term==