RAMALLAH, West Bank: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas faced pressure from Western allies yesterday not to let Prime Minister Salam Fayyad quit at a time when Washington is seeking to resurrect Middle East peace talks.
Palestinian sources told Reuters that Fayyad was to present his formal resignation to Abbas later yesterday after weeks of sparring over his handling of the economic crisis afflicting the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Fayyad, a former World Bank official, is credited by Western powers with helping create the institutions needed if the Palestinians are to gain independence from Israeli occupation.
His reputation among Palestinians is more mixed.
Aides to Abbas, speaking on condition of anonymity, were scathing in their assessment of the Texas-educated Fayyad, hinting that the president would be pleased to see him go.
However, a Western diplomat expressed dismay at the political in-fighting at a time when the United States is making a concerted effort to revive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and boost the flailing economy.
“Pressure is being put on Abbas to sit on this resignation offer for at least two months to see what comes of the US initiative,” said a senior European diplomat, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.
US diplomats were due to visit Ramallah yesterday and were expected to press Fayyad’s case, another diplomat said.
During a visit to the region last month, US President Barack Obama hailed Fayyad as a partner in peace.
REUTERS
