From the Liveblog of
Sunday, October 5, 2025
PA transportation minister dismissed over corruption suspicions
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent
Sources tell the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Palestinian Authority Transportation Minister Tareq Zou’rob, who was dismissed yesterday, was ousted due to corruption suspicions.
According to the report, the Palestinian prosecution is investigating Zou’rob.
PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa announced Zou’rob’s dismissal yesterday. A statement noted that Minister of Housing and Public Works A’ed Bseiso will manage the ex-minister’s affairs in addition to his current duties.
The Palestinian news site Sama reports that the corruption suspicions have several components, among them “granting licenses and approvals in violation of official procedures.”
In a related case, Nazmi Muhanna, head of the Palestinian Crossings Authority, was also dismissed from his post after becoming wanted on corruption suspicions.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree yesterday appointing Amin Kandil as head of the crossings authority in Muhanna’s place.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports that Muhanna is suspected of antiquities smuggling and has failed to appear for questioning in the past two weeks, apparently staying outside Israel’s borders.
Pressure has been mounting on the PA recently from US and European officials to carry out structural reforms and fight corruption.
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