By IANS,
Gaza : Gaza’s Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh Sunday reshuffled his cabinet, replacing seven ministers.
The new reshuffle included the ministers of agriculture, housing, finance, health, Islamic endowment, local government and justice.
No new ministers from other factions or independents are participating in the new cabinet. Only Hamas parliamentarian bloc granted the new formation the vote of confidence amid the absence of the other blocs.
“This shakeup is a routine procedure that is meant to improve the performance of the government,” said Haniyeh before the vote session.
“The government has made many achievements on the ground despite the Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza,” he added.
This is the third time that Haniyeh has reshuffled his cabinet since President Mahmoud Abbas ousted his unity government after Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza in 2007.
There is another Palestinian government in the West Bank that is led by Salam Fayyad.
Haniyeh also said that this reshuffle will not have negative effects on the national reconciliation whereas it will pave the way to the unity government when the reconciliation is achieved.
Meanwhile, Abbas’ Fatah party has condemned the procedure, saying that the reshuffle will deepen the political split.