What a novel approach!

[livendive 8]

Kudo's to the Palestinians. (red highlights by me)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/24/palestinian.cabinet.ap/index.html

Quote

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- A 24-member Palestinian Cabinet dominated by professional appointees, including nearly half with doctoral degrees, took office Thursday after being approved by the parliament in a major move toward long-promised government reform.

The new Cabinet was sworn in by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, hours after parliament gave its approval.

The 54-12 vote, with four abstentions, ended days of wrangling between rebellious legislators and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, who initially sought to retain political cronies from the Yasser Arafat era.

"They are young and professional, and I think they are capable of carrying out their jobs. We have chosen them very carefully," Abbas said of the new Cabinet members.

Abbas intervened Wednesday in the dispute between parliament and his prime minister, and persuaded legislators from his Fatah Party to support a Cabinet largely of ministers chosen for their expertise, not political loyalty.

The crisis strengthened Abbas and weakened Qorei, who may not survive as prime minister beyond parliamentary elections in July, after which a new Cabinet would be formed. After Arafat's death in November, Abbas and Qorei cooperated during a transition period, but relations have cooled since.

Abbas won the January 9 presidential elections in part on a promise to reform the government and the security services. His new Cabinet is largely devoid of politicians, and 17 of the ministers are newcomers.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom praised the appointment of the Cabinet as a "positive step," but he said he would withhold final judgment until the government's approach to militant groups becomes clear.

Abbas has said he would avoid confrontation with militants, and it appears unlikely the new Cabinet would adopt a different approach.

Virtually all the new ministers are experts in the field they are to oversee, including 10 with doctorates, a medical doctor, a lawyer, several engineers and several with master's degrees. The technology minister, Sabri Saidam, 41, holds a doctorate in electric engineering. The new agriculture minister, Walid Abed Rabbo, has a doctorate in human resource management from the United States and was in Jordan's agriculture ministry before becoming a consultant in the Palestinian agriculture ministry.

Two of the 24 are women, the same as in the outgoing Cabinet. One of the women is in charge of the women's affairs ministry; the second has no portfolio.

The names were chosen in Wednesday's meeting between Abbas and Fatah legislators, said Abbas Zaki, a top Fatah official. "We had about 100 names of top professionals, and we chose them one by one, not through voting, but by consensus, as the best to handle these posts," he said.

The method stood in stark contrast to the formation of Cabinets in the Arafat era, when he would choose the ministers based on loyalty.

"It's a turning point in the rationale, the approach and the methodology of forming Cabinets, in going beyond political patronage ... and to look for people who can deliver," said legislator Hanan Ashrawi.

Among the key appointments are Nasser Yousef, a tough ex-general, as interior minister who would oversee security changes and try to rein in Palestinian militants. Nasser Al-Kidwa, the former Palestinian representative to the United Nations and an Arafat nephew, was chosen as foreign minister.

Salam Fayyad, the Palestinians' widely respected finance minister for the last three years, will keep his job. Saeb Erakat will continue in his role as chief negotiator with Israel, but he will lose his Cabinet position.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[EricTheRed 0]

It does sound good doesn't it. A technocracy would never work here though since the people who really know what is going on are less likely to be influenced by lobbyists

illegible usually