Woman heads Palestinian Health Ministry for the first time
Only three women have been appointed to ministerial positions in the new Palestinian government, out of 18 ministries in total, raising the ire of activists.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The new Palestinian government formed by Mohammad Shtayyeh on April 13 has disappointed women's institutions by only appointing three women in ministerial positions. Out of 18 ministries only three now have a female minister, the same number as in the former government, which does not meet the 20% women’s quota set for local and legislative councils by the Local Council Elections Law No. 5 of 2004.
Since the 15th Palestinian government formed by Rami Hamdallah in 2013, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has been headed by a woman, while the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has always been an exclusive domain of women.
The new female ministers are heading the ministries of Women's Affairs, Tourism and Antiquities, and Health.
Political analyst Jihad Harb told Al-Monitor that Shtayyeh’s government was expected to appoint more women in ministerial roles, especially since ministers were selected based on merit. “We had high hopes that the government would include more female ministers but women are underrepresented,” he said.
