June 3, Washington, DC -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) extends its best wishes to new Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Rami Hamdallah in meeting the challenges facing the Palestinian Authority and its premiership.

 

Dr. Hamdallah succeeds outgoing Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. During his term, Fayyad led the process of building PA institutions, resulting in the implementation of a transparent budget process that eliminated corruption in government ministries. He led the establishment of a professional security sector that reestablished law and order in the West Bank. And under Fayyad's tenure, the PA created a physical and legal infrastructure that made Palestine, in the evaluation of the World Bank and all other relevant international institutions, "well-positioned to establish a state at any time in the near future." Throughout his premiership, Fayyad's integrity, competency and international credibility were invaluable assets to the Palestinians. He gained the trust and respect of the international community and helped the PA successfully manage some particularly difficult challenges. ATFP would like to thank PM Fayyad for these achievements. The Task Force looks forward to the contributions Dr. Fayyad will be making in the next phase of his political future in Palestine.

 

The appointment of Dr. Hamdallah comes at an extremely complex time for Palestinian governance and society. At the diplomatic register, the future of the peace process is at a pivotal point. Domestically, the challenge of reaching a meaningful national unity deal, in conformity with international standards, remains elusive. Realistic prospects for holding free, fair and open national elections – which is the only legitimate way to resolve the ongoing and pervasive crisis of political legitimacy among Palestinians – are hampered by those benefitting from the status quo. The financial crisis facing the PA, and the broader Palestinian economy, has still not abated, and the challenge of building a viable economy under Israeli occupation and restrictions remains unchanged. A further crucial challenge will be maintaining, and hopefully expanding, the important reforms in multiple sectors instituted and undertaken by the PA in recent years.

 

ATFP wishes PM Hamdallah success in meeting these challenges and in performing the duties of his office. The Task Force calls upon the Obama Administration and the United States Congress to continue supporting the PA in its quest to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through a negotiated peace agreement, and in its efforts to maintain and build upon its recent progress in developing more effective, transparent and accountable governance and security institutions.