Abdul Jawad Saleh** held a press conference to resign in protest for Arafat appointment the new cabinet yesterday, following are the main excerpts:

I would like to thank you for your presence to cover a real tragedy which took place yesterday in the PLC by announcing the formation of a new Palestinian government which came in violation and contravention of the resolution of the Palestinian LC which stipulates that all the ministers who were accused of corruption should be referred to court if these accusations proved right they should be relieved from their positions in reverse and in contraventions of these resolutions.. he in fact relieved some of the ministers who were honest.

On 26 of June, I refrained from giving my vote to the budget, which was announced at that time and I gave my reasons, which were because of corruption, which is dominating the lives of Palestinian people as a result institutionalizing corruption by the chairman himself and by those around him.

The absence of a cabinet as an institution, there was no cabinet… so it was a gathering, sook okath (market were poets or anyone can stand up and say whatever they want) just to say whatever you like, and that's it you have no choice in fact to promote decision making.

I raised the question of the lack of respect of human rights and there was no answer.

All these things have encouraged me to refrain from accepting the new position as a minister.

In fact some of the appointed are suspicious as far as I am concerned… the removal of some people and appointing substitutes particularly regarding the political aspect.

I was familiar through 8 years in the PLO Executive Committee with Mr. Arafat's work, his personal problems, his political attitudes I thought when I was in the PLO it's useless to work under him for the benefit of the Palestinian people.

When I came back to Palestine after 20 years of exile I thought that in Palestine where our people exist we could make the change.

I tried being a minister in the cabinet to improve things from inside to enhance the role of the people to enhance and create a democratic environment for the Palestinian society but in fact all my attempts have failed.

When I fought corruption inside my ministry I referred some of the high ranking officials to the Attorney General, the chairman himself interfered in stopping any legal procedure against them.

I came to a feeling that I should even as a minister be unequivocally against what's going on.

** On August 5, 1998 President Arafat announced the new Palestinian ministerial changes, Agriculture minister Abdul Jawad Salah (independent) was offered a post as minister of state, Palestinian Legislative member from Jenin Hikmat Zeid (independent) has been appointed the new agriculture minister.