RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- In his first week on the job, new Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia said he was on the verge of quitting, the New York Times reported.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat just swore in the prime minister Tuesday, when Arafat appointed an emergency government to serve for a month. Arafat's move was interpreted as a way of reducing chances Israel would act against him after the weekend suicide bombing in Haifa, Israel, that killed 20 Israelis, the Times said.
The two leaders have been bickering ever since Qureia's appointment.
Arafat's relationship with his first prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, lasted just four months before Abbas resigned Sept. 6.
Qureia and Arafat are arguing particularly about who will be interior minister, responsible for Palestinian security forces.
Qureia walked out of Arafat's Ramallah compound Sunday, saying his emergency government "will continue for 20 to 25 days, then after that there will be a new government with a new prime minister also."
Both Israel and the United States refuse to deal with Arafat but say they could work with a Palestinian prime minister with genuine authority.
