Palestinian Authority government resigns as US calls for change

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh of the Palestinian Authority, the body that governs part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, tendered the resignation of his cabinet on Monday, the authority’s official news agency said.

The decision follows diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, to persuade the authority to overhaul itself in a way that would allow it to take over administration of Gaza after the war. ended there.

But it was unclear whether the appointment of a new prime minister and cabinet would be enough to renew authority or convince Israel to allow Gaza to rule. President Mahmoud Abbas, the authority’s supreme leader, will remain in office along with his security chiefs regardless of whether he accepts Mr Shtayyeh’s resignation.

Israeli leaders had strongly hinted that they would not allow the authority’s existing leadership to govern Gaza. American and Arab leaders had hoped that new leadership would ensure Israel ceded administrative control of Gaza to the authority.

Because there is no functional parliament within the areas controlled by the authority, Mr Abbas has long ruled by decree, exercising great influence over the judiciary and prosecution system.

According to diplomats briefed on his thinking, Abbas’s favored candidate for prime minister is Mohammad Mustafa, a longtime economic adviser considered a member of his inner circle.