A new Palestinian Authority government was sworn in by PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday 13 April, placing at the head Fatah party member Mohammad Shtayyeh as new Prime Minister. Shtayyeh is an economist and longtime adviser for Abbas. Hamas reportedly called the move “a blow to unity efforts that faltered since the two groups signed a new reconciliation deal in Cairo in October 2017, but disputes over power-sharing had blocked the implementation of the agreement”, read Reuters. The Foreign Minister Riad Malki and Finance Minister Shukri Bishara will continue in their positions. Ministries of interior and religious affairs still await for new appointees for the two posts. One of the first challenges of the newly appointed PM is to shore up the cash-strapped PA since it has suffered US aid cuts and been in dispute with Israel over the withholding of some 5% of the monthly tax revenues it transfers to the PA. The PA has refused to accept any tax transfers until funds confiscated by Israel are restored. To face the crisis, the PA had to lower wages paid to civil servants in February and March.