Palestinian Parliament Approves New Prime Minister, Cabinet

Hours later, a suicide bomber attacked a seaside promenade in Tel Aviv, killing at least four other people and wounding at least 35, according to Israeli police.

The 68-year-old Abbas, who has criticized Palestinian president Yasser Arafat as well as Palestinian violence against Israelis, promised to control militant groups and confiscate illegal weapons, saying there was not a military solution to the ongoing conflict with Israel.

“We reject terrorism, whatever the source, whatever its forms,” Abbas told lawmakers. “We believe such methods do not help a just cause like ours. On the contrary, they destroy it.”

The United States has said it would release a “road map” for a Middle East peace process after Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, and his choice for a new Cabinet were confirmed.

“The Palestinian Authority now has a prime minister who is dedicated to moving the Palestinian people in a different direction, a direction away from violence,” White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

The road map is a joint peace plan drafted by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, a group called the Quartet. The Quartet supported Abbas, who is seen as a reformer.

The Palestinian Legislative Council voted for Abbas and the new Cabinet during a special session held in Ramallah. The new Cabinet ministers include both Arafat supporters and critics.

Arafat will continue to have a leadership role in the Palestinian Authority, the most important of which may be his control over some government security organizations.

The Palestinian president endorsed Abbas and the new Cabinet after President Bush refused to deal with Arafat, saying in June 2002 that Arafat could not be a party to talks because he did not support peace. The United States then made releasing the road map to peace contingent on confirmation of a new prime minister and Cabinet.

The peace plan maps out a provisional Palestinian state with temporary borders within a year and full Palestinian statehood by 2005.

Under the multistage plan, Abbas and his new Cabinet must crack down on terrorism by Palestinian groups and reform the Palestinian government, focusing on ending corruption.

For its part, Israel will have to withdraw its military from Palestinian areas occupied since 2000, freeze the building of Jewish settlements in Palestinian areas and support the provisional Palestinian state.

However, hours after the vote, an explosion rocked a popular seaside promenade in Tel Aviv, in what police said was a terror attack.

“There has been a terror attack on the seafront walkway,” said police spokeswoman Shlomit Hertzberg.

Israeli police said at least four people were killed and at least 35 people were hurt when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in a seaside restaurant.

Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Palestinian militants have said that they would continue the violence. Hamas spokesman Abdel Aziz Rantisi said the group would not comply with Abbas’ disarmament objectives.

“Hamas will use its weapons against the occupation only, and Hamas will fight this occupation until the full liberation,” Rantisi told the Associated Press before the blast.

Also before the blast, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, including a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Arafat accused Israel of trying to sabotage the vote on the Cabinet.

“Regretfully, this escalation is aimed at challenging the Palestinian Legislative Council,” Arafat told the Associated Press.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom praised Abbas’ anti-terrorism objectives.

“Abu Mazen’s comments in his speech today on the importance of dealing with terrorism and incitement are in the realm of a good start,” he told Reuters.

“Abu Mazen and his government will be judged by their actions,” Shalom said in a statement. “If Abu Mazen implements a policy of fighting terrorism on the ground, he will find in Israel a true partner for peace.”

Since fighting began in September 2000, 2,281 people on the Palestinian side and 760 people on the Israeli side have been killed, according to the Associated Press.