PA reshuffle & Al Jazeera’s new superpowers

• Yesterday Saeb Erekat resigned his position as Chief Negotiator, following the fallout of the Palestine Papers. After an investigation by the PA, it emerged that the leaked files came from Erekat’s office. Abbas has yet to accept his resignation.
• This news was coupled with the announcement that that presidential and parliamentary elections would take place in September. Last week it was announced that local elections would take place on July 9. Hamas has rejected both plans.
• This morning I received confirmed news through Ma’an and CNN correspondents that the NSU, which Erekat headed, would disband. Here is the Reuters story.
• Salam Fayyad also tendered his government’s resignation today, however, Abbas immediately assigned him to reshuffle a new cabinet.
• On Sunday, Abbas issued a decree banning local media and officials from abuse and slander of the emir of Qatar and the emirate’s government. I think I’ll miss the rumors of Tzipi’s sordid love affair with the Emir most.