Palestinians move to create appointment for prime minister

JERUSALEM -- Palestinian leaders moved closer Saturday to amending a law so a prime minister could be appointed -- one of many reforms demanded by the United States and Israel but a change that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat may resist.

The Palestinian Legislative Council agreed to meet later this month to amend Palestinian Authority law and create the position of prime minister. Council members were also expected to determine the responsibilities of the new post.

The council would meet between March 8 and 12, said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Arafat.

"President Arafat has accepted the idea of nominating a prime minister," Abu Rdeneh said, adding that arrangements are being made with Israeli authorities to allow safe passage for members to meet. It has been more than a year since the council met face-to-face and -- because of travel restrictions -- some members have had to meet via teleconference.

Israel has said it will allow the meeting but will prohibit members suspected in attacks against Israelis from attending.

Pressure on Arafat

Even if the meeting occurs, deliberations are expected to take some time. And Arafat -- who is under increasing international pressure to name a prime minister -- may postpone the appointment, said a Palestinian Authority official, who asked not to be identified.

Salam Fayad, the Palestinian's top finance leader, on Friday released a lengthy financial report and detailed $600 million in liquid assets in 79 ventures. He denied that Arafat holds secret accounts and said no funds had gone to terrorist activities.

The disclosure was one of several moves demanded by the United States and Israel, as was the appointment of a prime minister to share day-to-day control of the Palestinian Authority. U.S. and Israeli leaders argue that peace is not possible until Arafat is replaced.

They say he has been discredited by his failure to stop Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

Creating Palestinian state

Arafat, meanwhile, spoke via video at the Arab League summit being held in Egypt. Declaring that Israel was being ruled by extremists, Arafat said the Jewish state was waging war against Palestinians and "against all the Arab nations."

The video was taped Thursday, the same day Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's rightist coalition was approved by parliament in a 66-48 vote of confidence. The vote came a day after President Bush called on Israel to work quickly toward creating a Palestinian state.

While Sharon said his new team would work for peace in the Middle East, he said it would require a Cabinet vote before even considering a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank town of Nablus, meanwhile, more than 2,000 people in Nablus protested a U.S.-led war in Iraq. Some burned U.S. flags.

"Every Arab ruler who gives the Americans support is a traitor and has left Islam and must be fought," said demonstrator Hamed Baitawi, a leader of the Islamic militant Hamas group.

In Gaza, meanwhile, three residents in Khan Yunis were injured by Israeli soldiers. The army said it was destroying a bomb when three people -- two teenagers and a 27-year-old man -- entered a restricted area and troops opened fire.

The army said the bomb was similar to the one used in a Hamas attack on an Israeli tank that killed four soldiers last month.

Also in Gaza, a 27-year-old policeman killed in a clash with Israeli soldiers last week was buried Saturday. He died Friday night.