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Palestinian Prime Minister Announces New Reform Package

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa speaks to journalists in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, during his visit to the area in the aftermath of a deadly raid by Israeli forces in the nearby Nur Shams refugee camp, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa speaks to journalists in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, during his visit to the area in the aftermath of a deadly raid by Israeli forces in the nearby Nur Shams refugee camp, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP)
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Palestinian Prime Minister Announces New Reform Package

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa speaks to journalists in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, during his visit to the area in the aftermath of a deadly raid by Israeli forces in the nearby Nur Shams refugee camp, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa speaks to journalists in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, during his visit to the area in the aftermath of a deadly raid by Israeli forces in the nearby Nur Shams refugee camp, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP)

Newly installed Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa announced a package of reforms on Tuesday aimed at strengthening the Palestinian Authority (PA) amid increased global pressure for a revival of political dialogue with Israel.

Mustafa, appointed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier this year, said his government would introduce measures to improve transparency and fight corruption, overhaul the justice system and security sectors and improve public sector efficiency.

In addition, he said the health and education system would be improved, public finances strengthened and economic reforms implemented.

The reform pledges largely match promises previously made by his predecessor Mohammed Shtayyeh, who announced his resignation in February as the PA looked to build support for an expanded role amid Israel's war against the group Hamas in Gaza.

The United States and other international partners have pressed the PA to implement sweeping reforms to restore confidence among Palestinians who have become deeply disillusioned with the body set up under the interim Oslo Peace Accords more than 30 years ago.

The urgency to make reforms has increased as attention has turned towards the governance of Gaza, once Israel winds up its military campaign against Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel led by fighters from the movement.

Despite resistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Washington and its allies say the PA must be involved in administering the enclave once Israeli troops pull out.

The United States and most Western countries say only a two-state solution, entailing an independent Palestinian state next to Israel, can offer the chance of a peaceful resolution to decades of conflict.

However, Abbas reacted angrily last week when Washington vetoed a Palestinian request for full United Nations membership, saying the PA would reconsider bilateral ties with the United States following the decision.

The PA has been grappling with a severe financial crisis which has left most public sector employees receiving only part of their normal salary for the past two years.

The crisis has worsened since the start of the war in Gaza as Israel has cut off some of the tax revenues it collects on the PA's behalf, accusing the Authority of supporting Hamas.

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Arab World

Mazloum Abdi: We Will Take Advantage of Truce to Advance Dec. 18 Agreement

Forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) completed their withdrawal to the Hasakah region in northeastern Syria (Reuters). 
Forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) completed their withdrawal to the Hasakah region in northeastern Syria (Reuters). 
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Mazloum Abdi: We Will Take Advantage of Truce to Advance Dec. 18 Agreement

Forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) completed their withdrawal to the Hasakah region in northeastern Syria (Reuters). 
Forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) completed their withdrawal to the Hasakah region in northeastern Syria (Reuters). 

Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said efforts had been underway for some time to reach a ceasefire, noting that the current truce was implemented “at the request of the US military.”

“We are ready to implement the agreement in the near term, and there is understanding on many issues,” Abdi said in remarks to the Kurdish Ronahi TV channel. “We will use the truce period to make tangible progress on the Dec. 18 agreement.”

He explained that, under the agreement, government forces would not enter Kurdish-majority areas, while SDF institutions would be integrated into state institutions.

He added that Damascus had been asked not to enter the city and had agreed, expressing hope that the commitment would be upheld. Abdi said any solution for Kobani and Qamishli must also include Ras al-Ayn and Afrin.

Abdi said negotiations with Damascus were continuing under international sponsorship, with the involvement of the United States at political and military levels, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron.

He stressed that the talks should not be considered a final agreement, adding that international efforts to de-escalate would succeed as long as Damascus honored its commitments and no “unacceptable” conditions were imposed.

He said the SDF remained ready to implement the Dec. 18 agreement with Damascus within a short period, noting that names had been proposed for the posts of deputy defense minister and governor of Hasakah, though no final list had yet been agreed.

Meanwhile, the SDF said on Monday that heavy clashes had erupted with Syrian government-affiliated factions southeast of Kobani, after attacks launched at dawn.

The fighting continued, particularly in the town of Jalbiya, amid reinforcements including tanks and armored vehicles and intensive Turkish drone activity. Syria’s Defense Ministry accused the SDF of violating the ceasefire and launching more than 25 drone attacks on army positions around Kobani.

 

 

 

 

Arab World

Türkiye Bans Protests in Province Bordering Syria

Pro-Kurdish protesters tear down a border fence as they attempt to cross to the Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli during a demonstration in support of Syrian Kurds and against recent military clashes between the Syrian army and Kurdish forces, in Nusaybin, southeastern Türkiye, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Ensar Ozdemir
Pro-Kurdish protesters tear down a border fence as they attempt to cross to the Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli during a demonstration in support of Syrian Kurds and against recent military clashes between the Syrian army and Kurdish forces, in Nusaybin, southeastern Türkiye, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Ensar Ozdemir
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Türkiye Bans Protests in Province Bordering Syria

Pro-Kurdish protesters tear down a border fence as they attempt to cross to the Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli during a demonstration in support of Syrian Kurds and against recent military clashes between the Syrian army and Kurdish forces, in Nusaybin, southeastern Türkiye, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Ensar Ozdemir
Pro-Kurdish protesters tear down a border fence as they attempt to cross to the Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli during a demonstration in support of Syrian Kurds and against recent military clashes between the Syrian army and Kurdish forces, in Nusaybin, southeastern Türkiye, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Ensar Ozdemir

Turkish officials in the southeastern Mardin province bordering Syria on Monday announced a six-day ban on gatherings following an outpouring of anger over an offensive against Kurdish fighters across the border.

Türkiye's Kurdish community has denounced the government's support for a Syrian offensive against a semi-autonomous northeastern region under Kurdish control.

During a protest to denounce the operation last week, over 1,000 people attempted to breach the border crossing into Syria from the town of Nusaybin.

The ban on gatherings in Mardin is in place until Saturday evening.

"With the exception of events deemed appropriate ... any action intended to be carried out in open spaces (gatherings, marches, press conferences, hunger strikes, sit-ins, the setting up of stands, the pitching of tents, the distribution of leaflets/brochures, the posting of posters/banners, etc.) is prohibited," the Mardin governorate said in a statement.

Türkiye's pro-Kurdish DEM party had called a protest on Tuesday in Nusaybin, which is across the border from the Syrian city of Qamishli.

The call came despite the ceasefire currently in effect in northern Syria.

Türkiye already banned outdoor gatherings in Diyarbakir, the main city in the predominantly Kurdish southeast, between Friday and Monday evening.

The Turkish government has launched a peace process with the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but the clashes in northern Syria threaten to derail negotiations.

Arab World

Iraqi Hezbollah Calls for 'Total War' in Support of Iran amid Coordination Framework's Refusal

An Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah fighter. (X)
An Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah fighter. (X)
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Iraqi Hezbollah Calls for 'Total War' in Support of Iran amid Coordination Framework's Refusal

An Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah fighter. (X)
An Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah fighter. (X)

Secretary-General of Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi called on Sunday so-called "mujahideen" fighters to prepare for "total war" in support of Iran amid the rising tensions between Tehran and the United States.

Officials acknowledged the arrival of a US aircraft carrier to the region Monday. President Donald Trump ordered the carriers to move to the Middle East as he threatened military action over Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests.

The entire region is mired in a tense waiting game to see if Trump will strike.

Kataib Hezbollah sat out from Israel's 12-day war on Iran in June that saw the US bomb Iranian nuclear sites. The hesitancy to get involved shows the disarray still affecting Iran's self-described “Axis of Resistance” after facing attacks from Israel during its war on Hamas in Gaza.

Al-Hamidawi's call was the first by Iran-aligned factions in Iraq in wake of the latest tensions, while the Baghdad government and majority of political parties have kept silent. Baghdad is embroiled in the process of forming a new government and naming a new prime minister.

In a statement, al-Hamidawi called on "mujahideen across the land to prepare for total war in support of" Iran that has "for over four decades stood by the weak, without discrimination over sect, race or color."

He said "Zionists across the earth are trying to destroy Iran", calling on members of the Axis to support it with whichever means they can.

"We affirm to the enemies that the war on Iran will not be a picnic; rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region," he declared.

Washington had previously designated as terrorist four Iraqi armed factions, including Kataib Hezbollah. It accused Iran of supporting "these militias in planning or facilitating attacks" across Iraq.

The US has for months been pressuring Iraqi authorities to limit the possession of weapons to the state and bring under control armed factions that operate independently of the armed forces and that have carried out attacks against Washington's interests in Iraq.

Meanwhile, an official source in the pro-Iran Coordination Framework distanced the coalition from al-Hamidawi's statement.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the source said the Kataib Hezbollah's "behavior and statements at this time are inappropriate and only further complicate the situation in Iraq."

"Political forces in Iraq are preoccupied with the formation of a new government that has several problems to deal with, including the dire economy," added the source on condition of anonymity.

"The government is not prepared to join any war with any party," it stressed.

It doubted that al-Hamidawi's call to fight will be heeded by other factions "because they are aware that they cannot confront the US, just as they were aware during the 12-day war that they did not join."

The majority of the factions prefer to stand on the sidelines than join a war that may perhaps destroy or weaken them, it went on to say.

Moreover, the Coordination Framework leaderships refuse to embroil Iraq in a new war, it added.