The old pals act is consigned to history as a new Palestinian cabinet enhanced by a host of professional experts is appointed.
It took days of heated discussions and political deadlock but at last Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei's 24-strong team has been sworn in Ramallah after the vast majority of legislators gave their backing.
The vote was carried easily by 54-12 with four abstentions after Qurei responded to widespread demands not to appoint veterans from the Arafat era - which was widely seen to be plagued by corruption.
In a historic occasion the new members were sworn in at Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters .
Abbas hailed the success in constructing a cabinet drawn from outside the ranks of parliament calling it a 'happy day for the Palestinian people', .
Reform of the Palestinian Authority is now a real possibility thanks to the inclusion of 17 new so-called technocrats as ministers.
Virtually all of the new ministers are seen as experts in the field they are to oversee.
Their first responsibility will be to tackle the corruption leftover from the previous regime.
Andrew Zilouf
Out with Pals of Old
A new cabinet heralds an era of professionalism in Palestinian politics.
