Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah chairing a meeting of his cabinet in Ramallah. (WAFA Images)

RAMALLAH, Tuesday, January 29, 2019 (WAFA) – The 17^th government of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah submitted on Tuesday its resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas, according to a cabinet statement.

It said after its weekly meeting held in Ramallah that the government “will continue to serve our people wherever they are and shoulder all its responsibilities until a new government is formed.”

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah “expressed his appreciation and the appreciation to his cabinet members for the confidence and support of the President and the Palestinian leadership for the government during the period of its work,” said the statement.

“The Prime Minister wished success for the consultations to form a new government as soon as possible, stressing that the success of any government in carrying out the tasks entrusted to it, demands the trust of the Palestinian people in their government and the sincere support of the national forces and factions and all components of Palestinian society in order for it to overcome the difficulties and face the challenges with a strong national will and achieve the aspiration of our people in ending the division, achieve national reconciliation, strengthen the foundation of the institutions of the State of Palestine, achieve our legitimate national rights in ending the occupation, attain our national independence and establish our independent and fully sovereignty Palestinian state on the 1967 borders in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem as its capital,” said the cabinet statement.

Hamdallah, 60, first assumed the premiership on July 6, 2013. His government underwent two changes until it was affirmed as National Conciliation Government on June 2, 2014 with a mission to end the division and achieve reconciliation.

M.K.