Minor Cabinet reshuffle in Palestinian consensus govt does not have any political dimensions

The minor Cabinet reshuffle in the Palestinian consensus government under Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah does not have any political dimensions, said Fatah's Revolutionary Council secretary general Amin Makboul.

The Cabinet reshuffle was meant to meet the needs of the governmental and administrative works, Makboul told MENA correspondent here on Wednesday.

He, meanwhile, denied that consultations were held with one of the factions in the Cabinet reshuffle.

The government and the president have the right to make a Cabinet reshuffle, without consulting any faction as long as the reshuffle does not exceed more than one-third of the ministers, he went on to say.

He also described Hamas' statements regarding the Cabinet reshuffle as 'unjustified'.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas announced a minor Cabinet reshuffle Monday, naming three new ministers to the national unity government in a move denounced by Hamas movement in Gaza.

Makboul also said that consultations and contacts are being held with Hamas regarding finalizing reconciliation and ending rift through attending the Palestinian national council meeting to take decisions regarding ties between the factions and agreeing on a unified strategy to confront Israeli occupation.

He also expected that the Palestinian national council meeting will convene before the end of this year to draw up mechanisms to implement decisions of the central committee of Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Fatah movement will continue to support the Palestinian popular resistance, he affirmed, adding that the Palestinian president and Fatah leaderships back the popular resistance which aims to end occupation and liberate the Palestinian territories.

Sources: MENA