The priority for the new Palestinian prime minister must be to "fight terrorism", both the US and Israel have said. US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the country hoped the new prime minister would be given "the political authority of the security forces and financial assets needed". Ahmed Qurei, nominated for the post by Yasser Arafat, has already made clear he will not accept it without US backing. However, it is widely believed that he will agree to replace Mahmoud Abbas who resigned last weekend. Abbas, preferred negotiating partner for the US, unsuccessfully sought greater security powers from Arafat.