Criticized on the Palestinian floor for supplying cement products for the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Korey had chaired the Palestine Delegation in the September 1995 Oslo Convention as well as the April 1994 Paris Convention.
Having served as minister of economy and minister of industry in Palestine, it was no surprise when Korey received the support of 63 out of 73 members in the Palestinian Parliament Presidential elections in March 2000. He was diagnosed with coronery heart disease and hospitalized for the first time in 2002. His health is said to be his main obstacle to performing his prime ministry duty.
Known as the 'man of difficult missions', Ahmet Korey is perceived as a 'possible to talk to leader' by the Israeli administration. Korey had gained 'most trustworthy Palestinian Leader' status by the Israelis after his 13 meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu who had suspended talks with the Palestine Administration in 1997. In addition, Ariel Sharon had said that Korey was the only one in the Palestinian Administration he would talk to.
The youth, who support radical changes in the Palestinian government, however, oppose Korey's appointment. Muhammed Dahlan, whom the U.S. and Israel want to see as leader of the Palestinian security forces has already stated he will not serve under any prime minister other than Mahmut Abbas.
The Israeli Administration is concerned about Korey's precondition for accepting prime ministry - that it change its policy on Arafat. It is suggested that if Korey appoints Gabriel Recub instead of Dahlan, Arafat will regain all the power that he had lost in the last three years.
With Dahlan out of the picture, communication channels between Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations with the Palestinian Administratrion are likely to be clogged. Commentators point out that if Israel continues its dead-targeted policies as well as its Arafat isolation policy, Korey will not last as long as Abbas as prime minister.
