White House Welcomes New Palestinian Prime Minister, Reminds of Reform Issues

White House. (Wikimedia Commons/Matt H. Wade)

JAKARTA - The White House said it welcomed the appointment of Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, asking him to immediately implement credible and comprehensive reforms deemed necessary for the PA to regain control of Gaza.

"We urge the formation of a reform cabinet as soon as possible," said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson in a statement, quoted by The Times of Israel, March 15.

"The United States will look to this new administration to implement policies and implement reforms that are credible and far-reaching," he continued.

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Dr. Mohammad Mustafa as prime minister to form a new government, according to the official WAFA news agency on Thursday local time.

Mustafa has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) since 2022 and has served as deputy prime minister and economy minister in previous governments. Mustafa himself is an American-trained economist who once served as an economic advisor to President Abbas.

"A reformed Palestinian Authority is critical to delivering results for the Palestinian people and establishing conditions for stability in the West Bank and Gaza," said a White House statement.

Officials in the administration of United States President Joe Biden have urged President Abbas to bring new figures, including technocrats and economic experts, into the reformed Palestinian Authority to help govern post-war Gaza.

However, it is unclear whether the appointment of a new cabinet led by a close ally of President Abbas will be enough to meet Washington's reform demands, as he will remain in full control.