Mr Hamdallah’s resignation is not yet official, nor is it thought likely that President Mahmoud Abbas will accept the departure of a prime minister he had sworn into office as recently as June 6. The surprise announcement, however, won quick support from many within the Palestinian establishment. “I respect him for taking this decision. They thought he would be window dressing and he wouldn’t’ accept that,” said Mohammed Dajani, founder of the Wastia Movement of Moderate Islam in the West Bank.

“His decision will undermine the Palestinian Authority, Fatah and Abu Mazen in particular. I doubt they will have the strength to survive what is a very serious blow.” Mr Hamdallah’s abdication is believed to have been prompted by a power struggle with his two powerful deputies Dr Ziad Abu Amr and Dr Mohammed Mustafa. Government insiders report that Dr Mustafa, Chief Executive of the Palestinian Investment Fund, has seized a tight hold on governmental finances on behalf of the Palestinian president, effectively sidelining Mr Hamdallah regarding critical financial developments.

Dr Abu Amr, meanwhile, has monopolised the management of internal political decisions, including efforts to reconcile the West Bank with Hamas in Gaza leaving the prime minister without a platform to govern from. Analysts believe the popular and well respected academic, appointed for his success as the director of An Najah University and reputation unbesmirched by political corruption, did not have the political experience or appetite to fight his corner.

“Rami Hamdallah realised he had no room to manoeuvre because of his two very strong deputies, who are basically arms of Mr Abbas,” explained Professor Bassem Zbeidi, a political analyst at the West Bank’s Beir Zeit University. “Rami Hamdallah is an emperor [at An Najah] – his decisions are almost sacred. He is not used to this level of humiliation.”

Although Mr Hamdallah’s resignation is unlikely to derail efforts to revive Israeli peace talks, it will do little to aid the survival of the Palestinian Authority or boost Palestinian confidence in their leadership. “The biggest impact Hamdallah’s decision will have is that people will have to cope with an additional level of despair and frustration with Palestinian politics,” Prof Zbeidi said. “The West Bank is a complete mess.”

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