Fifth Arafat Government

The Palestinian Authority Government of October 2002 was a government of the Palestinian National Authority (PA) from October 2002 to April 2003, headed by Yasser Arafat, the President of the Palestinian National Authority. The Cabinet was largely equal to the June Government, from which six Ministers had resigned.

In April 2003, the next Government led by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was established.

Powers and jurisdiction
Pursuant to the Oslo Accords, the authority of the PA Government was limited to some civil rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank Areas A and B and in the Gaza Strip, and to internal security in Area A and in Gaza.

2003 Basic Law changes
After the dismissal of the Government, no elections were held. On 18 March 2003, Arafat signed the 2003 Amended Basic Law, which transformed the political system into a semi-presidential one. The post of Prime Minister was created, who became responsible for the composition of the Cabinet and became the Chairman of the "Council of Ministers".

Mahmoud Abbas was named as the proposed first Prime Minister on 6 March 2003, and appointed on 19 March 2003. Abbas became the head of the next Government on 29 April.