PALESTINE - Sept. 20 - Arafat Controls New Govt.

Pres. Arafat gets most of his nominees to be appointed by new PM Qurei in a new cabinet. (Arafat is defying both PM Sharon and the US, saying he will not be swayed by Washington's and Israeli attempts to sideline him and the American veto of a pro-Palestine resolution at the UN Security Council on Sept. 16). He says the US veto for a resolution that sought to shield him from Israeli action (see Arabs-Israel & Arab-US relations) was insignificant, adding: "No decision here or there will shake us. We are bigger than all decisions". FM Nabil Shaath has said US officials had informed the PA that their veto "is not in any way a green light for Israel to implement its threat against President Arafat. The Americans reiterated their opposition to expelling or harming him".