Sunday April 14, 2013

I've Been Thinking:

Salam Fayyad resigned. Fayyad was prime minister of the Palestinian Authority since June 2007.

Fayyad's departure will be a blow - it will affect almost everything PA related.

Salam Fayyad was the force behind economic growth and planning in the PA. Actually, when Yasser Arafat originally brought him in to manage the finance ministry, Fayyad reformed the entire civil service insisting on direct deposit. Before that Arafat used to pay people by doling out cash filled envelopes.

Fayyad resigned because the tensions between his vision and Abbas' vision were just too great, too untenable, to breach.

The relationship between Abbas and Fayyad came full circle. Abbas originally appointed Fayyad to the position of prime minister after Hamas leader Ismail Hayyineh was duly elected by the people in 2007. Abbas could not possibly tolerate having a Hamas leader as PM so he appointed Fayyad instead.

That move caused Hamas to secede and then respond by ousting the PA from Gaza in a coup. Ever since then, Fayyad's presence has been one of the most critical objections Hamas has had in uniting with the Palestinian Authority.

Salam Fayyad was THE address for all Western diplomats. He was a major voice for moderation and Western influence. Now that voice and that moderating presence is gone.

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