RAMALLAH, West Bank, October 29 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat announced Tuesday, October 29, his new cabinet to parliament ahead of a key confidence vote, introducing four newcomers.

Arafat named four new ministers, including Interior Minister Hani al-Hassan, from Arafat's Fatah movement; new Health Minister, Ahmed Shibi, also from Fatah; new Justice Minister, Zoheir Sourani, an independent; and a new Minister for Prisoners, Hisham Abdelrazaq, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

At the same time, Arafat named Samir Ghoshe in charge of Orient House, the unofficial base of the Palestine Liberation Organization in occupied Jerusalem.

The new line-up also featured Palestinian Authority distinguished politicians,, including Information Minister Yasser Abed-Rabbo, International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath and Minister for Local Authorities Saeb Erakat.

The new cabinet has been described as falling short of the sweeping demands for a government of younger technocrats demanded by parliament when it forced a previously reshuffled line-up to step down in September.

But Fatah officials said Arafat turned up the pressure on them to back his candidates in intensive talks in recent weeks, with the Palestinian President calling a defeat for his cabinet a victory for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Arafat called for "reconciliation" with Israel and renewed his condemnation of attacks on civilians.

"I extend my hand in reconciliation to the Israelis to resume the peace process launched in Madrid in 1991," said Arafat, who has frequently called for a resumption of talks.

He likewise called for Israel and the Palestinians to be "good neighbors."

"We want to live as neighbors. Let us find a common ground for the security we desire, which you desire, for our common security," said Arafat.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian activist of the Islamic resistance group Hamas was killed Tuesday in an Israeli army raid on his home in the West Bank town of Tubas near Jenin, AFP reported.

Israeli forces stormed into the house of 28-year-old Hassem Sawafta, setting off explosives and opening fire with automatic weapons.

The Israeli occupation army also blew up the house of another Hamas activist, Ahmed Mussa, arrested in April - in Jenin itself.