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Ban welcomes appointment of new Palestinian Prime Minister

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of the Palestinian Authority, who has been succeeded by Rami Hamdallah.
UN Photo/Evan Schneider
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of the Palestinian Authority, who has been succeeded by Rami Hamdallah.

Ban welcomes appointment of new Palestinian Prime Minister

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated Rami Hamdallah on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Palestine and welcomed the formation of a new sworn-in Cabinet.

In a statement on behalf of his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban wished Mr. Hamdallah success in his critical work ahead.

“The United Nations looks forward to continuing to work with the Government of Palestine and President Abbas in support of the State-building agenda and ongoing efforts aimed at a resumption of crucial and meaningful peace negotiations to achieve the two-State solution,” according to the statement, which makes reference to the internationally endorsed plan for both Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace within secure borders.

Mr. Ban has said the UN will do all it can to help resume a meaningful peace process in the region.

President Mahmoud Abbas named Mr. Hamdallah to replace the outgoing Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, who stepped down in April.

Mr. Ban expressed his appreciation for the Mr. Fayyad’s “many contributions”, especially his commitment to readying Palestinian institutions for statehood.