Second and Third Fayyad Governments

The Second and Third Fayyad Governments or the Palestinian Government of May 2009 was a Palestinian government of the Palestinian National Authority led by Salam Fayyad from 19 May 2009 to June 2013. Fayyad had been Prime Minister of the First Fayyad Government of June 2007.

The Fayyad Government was the de jure government in the Palestinian Authority, though its control was confined to the West Bank Areas A and B, whereas Hamas formed the de facto Government in the Gaza Strip.

The Second Fayyad Government comprised somewhere between 20 and 22 members depending on the consulted source. It resigned in February 2011, however due to disagreements of how to proceed, Fayyad continued to preside over a caretaker government.

Following the February 2012 Doha agreement and the successive May 2012 Cairo accord, which also failed to be implemented, Mahmoud Abbas asked Fayyad to form a new Cabinet, without Hamas' involvement. On 16 May 2012, a reshuffled Cabinet was formed, creating the Third Fayyad Government. Fayyad gave up his post as Finance Minister in favour of Nabeel Kassis. The PA faced an estimated financing gap of about $500 million. The government expanded to 25 members, with 11 new faces.

In 2013, the Fayyad government was succeeded by the Palestinian governments of 2013 led by Rami Hamdallah.

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.

The Fayyad Government was the de jure government in the Palestinian Authority, though its control was confined to the West Bank Areas A and B, while Hamas formed the de facto Government in the Gaza Strip.

Formation
Most of the ministers were members of Fatah, although the Cabinet also included independents and members of third parties.

The Government was appointed by presidential decree and lacked the approval of the Palestinian Legislative Council as required pursuant the Palestinian Basic Law. The opposition of the Hamas majority alone was enough to withhold the new government its legal basis, but even Fatah's parliamentary bloc did not endorse the government. Two PLC members refused to join the government when the Fatah bloc decided not to back the new Fayyad cabinet. For the international community, this was not a reason to question the legality of the Government.

Second Government
May 2009 to May 2012

Third Government
May 2012 to June 2013