Palestinian consensus government reshuffled, 5 new ministers sworn in

Five new ministers were sworn in on Friday before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as part of an earlier decision to reshuffle the consensus government.

The new five ministers are added to the cabinet ministers of the government headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. The government was formed in June last year following an agreement with Hamas movement in Gaza in April.

The reshuffle ceremony took place at Abbas presidential headquarters in Ramallah and was attended by senior officials in Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Reshuffling the government happened without getting the approval of the Palestinian parliament, better known as the Legislative Council (PLC) because it has been inoperative since the internal division with Hamas begun in 2007.

Hamas movement, which was part of the reconciliation agreement to form a consensus government, has strongly opposed the reshuffle. It said in a statement that the reshuffle is illegal and it doesn't recognize it.

The reshuffle of the consensus government included the replacement of two ministers; the minister of education and the minister of municipal affairs, and three new ministers for agriculture, transportation and economy were added. Enditem