Ramallah, Nov 12: The Palestinian legislature approved the new Cabinet of Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia today, ending a two-month stalemate that has stymied talks on ending the fighting with Israel. The vote, which came after impassioned pleas by Qureia and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to halt the violence, appeared to open the way for a resumption of peace talks with Israel. Qureia's government passed by a vote of 46 in favor, 13 against and five abstentions. Qureia, who was appointed in September, failed to form a cabinet during his first month in office. He then served for another month under an Arafat emergency decree that expired last week. He broke the standoff Sunday by giving in to Arafat on the crucial question of Palestinian security and police, effectively leaving the veteran leader in indirect control of most of the myriad forces.
Bureau Report