Arafat considering billionaire as Prime Minister

Yasser Arafat is considering Monib al-Masri, a Palestinian billionaire with no apparent political ambitions, for the job of prime minister, an associate of the West Bank businessman said.

The front-runner for the job has been Arafat’s deputy in the PLO, Mahmoud Abbas, and the appointment of al-Masri, a long-time friend of the Palestinian leader, would be seen as an upset.

Arafat yesterday met leaders of his Fatah movement who have endorsed Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen, for the job.

But Arafat was non-committal in the meeting, saying only that he would consider the request, participants said.

Arafat reluctantly agreed last month, under intense international pressure, to share power and create the position of prime minister.

However, opposition politicians fear he will try to retain control by either stripping the job of any real powers or by naming a weak candidate.

Arafat apparently does not want to make Abbas the prime minister because he could turn into a rival, Palestinian observers said.

Throughout his four decades as Palestinian leader, the 73-year-old Arafat has refused to name a successor. Abbas, a moderate who has called for an end to attacks on Israelis, has also been hurt by Israeli and US support.

Al-Masri has no apparent political ambitions he repeatedly turned down offers by Arafat to serve in the Palestinian Cabinet.

Arafat has asked al-Masri to consider the job, but has not yet made a formal offer, said an associate of the businessman.

Last week, al-Masri declined to say whether he had been offered the job, but said he did not want to serve as prime minister.