On April 13, 2019, the new Palestinian government was sworn in, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh. So far 20 ministers have been appointed, but more may be added (ministers of internal affairs and of the waqf – the Muslim endowment) have not yet been appointed, possibly because of internal conflicts). It is a government of technocrats who lack deep roots in in the Palestinian public. Dr. Shtayyeh, the prime minister, is an economist and a member of Fatah’s Central Committee. Most of the ministers are Fatah members or independents, some of them affiliated with Fatah. However, influential Fatah members, who have a public power base, were not appointed. In addition, prominent organizations, such as Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) are not represented, because from the beginning they refused to participate. On the other hand, small, unimportant organizations (the Palestinian Struggle Front, FIDA, the Palestinian People’s Party) are included, but their participation in the government does not obscure Fatah’s predominance.

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