Rami Hamdallah Appointed as New Palestinian PM

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed Rami Hamdallah as the new prime minister following the resignation of Salam Fayyad

Rami Hamdallah(54)a British-educated academic and political independent replaces Mr Fayyad who stepped down in April following a long-running and bitter dispute with the president Mahmoud Abbas

Rami Hamdallah now has the job of forming a new government in Ramallah, the administrative centre of the Palestinian Authority.

He is currently president of al-Najah National University in the West Bank and seen as close to Mr Abbas' Fatah party. He has not previously had a high-profile role in Palestinian politics.