THE MIDDLE EAST: In a rare show of dissent many Palestinian legislators are threatening to vote against President Yasser Arafat's new Palestinian Authority cabinet when their quasi-parliament convenes today in Ramallah.
Mr Arafat is set to make what is being touted as a "major policy speech" at the session of the Palestinian Legislative Council, from which Israel's Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, has barred 12 delegates alleged to be "involved in terrorism". Mr Sharon, who has been doing his utmost to consign Mr Arafat to the margins of Palestinian affairs, was initially inclined to prevent the meeting of the 88-member elected PNC altogether, and told his ministers as much last week.
However, since today's agenda includes the formal swearing-in of new Palestinian cabinet ministers - such as the Interior Minister, Mr Abdel-Razak Yehiyeh, and the Finance Minister, Mr Salam Fayed, whom Israel acknowledges are helping to create a slightly improved climate in Israeli/Palestinian Authority relations - the prime minister could hardly justify heavy-handed intervention.
The legislators, some of whom may vote against the new ministerial line-up, in part to reinforce their demand that Mr Arafat appoint a prime minister, are also to discuss procedures for new elections and for reforms in the Palestinian Authority - again a process which Mr Sharon strongly endorses.
Nevertheless, Mr Sharon has not been enthusiastic about the talk of reform, including Mr Yehiyeh's disclosure that a retraining of Palestinian security forces is imminent.
"There must be genuine reform," the prime minister said at the weekend, "not what Arafat is talking about at the moment." The original Israeli list barred 14 legislators from the session, but one is already in Ramallah and a second is dead.
One of those banned from travelling is the new Minister of Supplies, Mr Abdel-Aziz Shaheena.
The barred delegates will participate by video conference, as has been the case on past occasions in the previous two years when the parliament has convened with a partial presence.
The session is to be held inside Mr Arafat's battered headquarters compound - apparently because he fears Israel will blow it up if he leaves.