(JNS) Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced a series of administrative reforms on Monday, Jan. 29 aimed at reducing widespread corruption and improving ties with the United States.

“Today we announce the launch of the new phase of implementing this program in the judicial, security, administrative and financial structures,” Shtayyeh said following a P.A. Cabinet meeting in the Samaria city of Ramallah, according to the Emirati newspaper The National.

“The program includes several core ministries, addressing the government debt, outstanding water and electricity bills, which Israel deducts from the clearance tax funds, and restructuring some of the services the government provides to citizens,” he added.

As part of the purported reforms, Abbas will ultimately appoint 12 new permanent regional P.A. governors in Yehuda, Shomron and the Gaza Strip after he moved to dismiss all but four of them from their posts over the summer, Haaretz reported.

In addition, commanders and other senior officials in the P.A.’s security forces will be pushed into retirement to make place for new blood, the newspaper said.

According to senior P.A. officials cited by Haaretz, the changes were demanded by the Biden administration during recent talks on the future of Gaza. The reforms will reportedly be applied in stages, culminating in presidential and parliamentary elections.

Shtayyeh did not indicate whether the P.A. would end its “pay-for-slay” policy.