Biograhpy of PA Cabinet
1.Ismail Hanieh – Prime Minister and Minister of Sports and Youth
Hanieh is considered one of the young political leaders in Hamas who started to emerge as a leading figure in the student movement before moving into the world of politics. Hanieh, 43, comes from a Palestinian refugee family from the village of al-Jora in the occupied city of Asqalan and he was born in Shate' Camp in 1963.
He finished his elementary and preparatory studies in the UNRWA Schools and got his secondary education from religious Azhar Institute in Gaza and then he joined the Education College – Arabic Language Department – in the Islamic University and graduated from that college. He is married and has 11 children. One of the main stations in the life of Hanieh was his activities in the Islamic Bloc (the student wing of Hamas) and was member of Student Council in the Islamic University in Gaza between 1983-1984, and then became head of the student council in 1985-1986, at that time the student council witnessed in the eighties serious disputes between Fatah Shabiba (Fatah Student Wing) and the Islamic Bloc in the university.
Hanieh was arrested more than once in the Israeli prisons. He was arrested for 18 days in 1987 and was arrested for six months in 1988, and the third time, he was arrested for three years in 1989. On December 17, 1992, Israel deported Hanieh to Marj al-Zuhur in South Lebanon along with 415 activists and cadres from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. He held the post of director of the office of martyr Sheikh Ahmad Yasin, the founder and leader of Hamas, and he is considered one of the leading political figures in Hamas. Hanieh enjoys popularity among Hamas circles and the Palestinian people; he is known for his calmness and moderate positions and he stresses a lot on the Palestinian unity. He enjoys strong relations with leaders of other Palestinian factions and he participated in the dialogue sessions between Hamas and the PA and the Palestinian factions. Hanieh and Mahmoud Zahhar are considered the main political leaders of Hamas in Gaza Strip after the assassination of Sheikh Yasin and Dr. Rantisi and Ismail Abu Shanab and Dr. Ibrahim Maqadmeh. Hanieh was subjected to an assassination attempt while he was accompanying Sheikh Ahmad Yasin in September 2002 when a Zionist warplane shelled with a strong bomb a home in Gaza but Hanieh and Sheikh Yasin and the residents in the home survived.
2. Mahmoud Zahhar – as Foreign Minister
he is considered a member of the hard line wing in Hamas and was one of the closest people to Abdul Aziz Rantisi who was assassinated by Israel in 2003. Zahhar was born in the city of Gaza in 1951 from a Palestinian father and an Egyptian mother and he lived his childhood in the city of Ismailia in Egypt. He is married to Samiha Khamis al-Agha from Khan Yunis and his has seven children (four boys and three girls). Zahhar got his BS degree in medicine from Ein Sham University in Cairo in 1971 and then he got his masters degree in general surgery in 1976 and since then he worked as a physician in the hospitals of Gaza and Khan Yunis. He headed the Nursing Department at the Islamic University in Gaza where he still lectures there. A few months after Hamas was established, he was arrested by the Israeli authorities in the first large scale campaign against Hamas. He was among those who were deported to Marj Zuhur in South Lebanon in 1992. He was arrested by the Palestinian security services in 1996 for several months after the establishment of the PNA in 1994 and after Hamas executed several bombing operations in Israel. On September 10, 2003, he was subjected to an assassination attempt when Israeli F16 planes shelled his home in Rimal Quarter but he survived and his elder son Khaled died in that raid along with one of his companions and his wife suffered serious injuries then. Zahhar has several intellectual, political and literary contributions and publications.
3. Dr. Omar Abdul Razeq – as Finance Minister
is considered an expert in economic affairs who received his higher studies at Iowa University before he returned to the Palestinian lands. He was born in the village of Salfeet in 1958 and grew up in a rural society; he finished his studies at Salfeet Secondary School and then he traveled to the US to pursue his higher studies where he got a PhD in Economy from the University of Iowa in May 1986. Abdul Razeq was no. 16 on Hamas Homeland List in the PLC elections; he is considered a researcher in the Palestinian Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) in Ramallah. Abdul Razeq was arrested in the Israeli prisons twice. The first time was in 1997 for a period of 4 months at Megiddo Prison, and the second time was on December 13, 2005 and was released three days ago. Abdul Razeq carries several awards and honor certificates, including Abdul Hameed Shouman Award for Arab Young Scholars in Social Sciences in 1991.
4. Saeed Siam – Interior and Civil Affairs Minister
is considered member of the moderate wing in Hamas. Siam is member of Hamas politburo. He was imprisoned several times by the Israeli troops. He was born in Shate' Camp in Gaza in 1959. His family comes originally from al-Jora Village in Asqalan south of Israel. He is married with six children (two boys and four girls). Siam graduated from Teachers College in Ramallah with a diploma in teaching sciences and mathematics and then he pursued his university studies at al-Quds Open University where he got his BA degree in Islamic Education. He worked as a teacher in the UNRWA Schools in Gaza from 1980 until the end of 2003. Siam was a member of the Arab Employees Union in the UNRWA for several terms. He headed the teachers Sector Committee for seven years in a row. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic University in Gaza. At the political level, he represented Hamas in the Higher Follow Up Committee of the National and Islamic Forces in Gaza. He was a member of Hamas politburo and he headed the Department of External Relations in the movement. Siam was placed under administrative detention four times by the Israeli army during the first Intifada that erupted in December 1987, and then he was deported for one year to Marj Zuhur in South Lebanon in 1992. in 1995, he was arrested by the Palestinian Military Intelligence Apparatus following the series of bombing operations in Israel.
5. Dr. Basem Naim - Health Minister
He holds a degree in medicine from Germany and he holds a PhD in surgery and works at al-Shifa Hospital in the city of Gaza. He heads Hamas medical bloc. Naim is Secretary of Palestinian Medical Forum Institute. his elder son, Naim. member of Izziddin Qassam Brigades, was killed at the age of 17 during an Israeli army incursion in Shujaia Quarter east of Gaza.
6. Engineer Alaeddin al-A'raj - Minister of National Economy -
he was born in Gaza in 1964 and his family is originally from Bet Jirja. He is father for five sons. He holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from al-Najah University in Nablus in 1987. He headed the board of directors of a groups of firms in the fields of trade and contracts. He is head of the Palestinian contractors Union in Gaza Districts. Secretary of Engineers Syndicate in Gaza Districts. he is member of Palestinian businessmen and former member of its board of directors. he is member of the Coordinating Council of the Palestinian Private Sector Institutions. He was arrested in the occupation prisons between 1991-1993 under the claim of resisting occupation.
7. Fakhri Turkman – Minister of Social Affairs
Independent - from Jenin; he is 57 years old and married. He has a BA in Sociology, psychology and philosophy – higher education diploma in education. He was a school principal. He is known for his independence not belonging to any political party.
8. Wasfi Mustafa Izzat Qabha - Minister for Prisoners Affairs
9. Naser Eddin Sha'er - Deputy PM and Minister of Education and Higher Education
(Hamas - Nablus in the West Bank). he is the Dean of Islamic Studies and Law at al-Najah University. he is 45 years old and holds a PhD in Middle East Studies from Manchester University and his dissertation was a comparative study on role of women in Islam and Judaism. He holds a Masters degree in Islamic Studies. he was a research scholar on religion and democracy at New York University and published several books and papers on gender, globalization, peace process, preaching and human rights within religious higher education.
10. Dr. Yousef Rizqa - Minister of Information
He is from al-Bureij Camp in Gaza Strip and he holds a PhD in Arab Language and in the past he was Dean of Arts College and Students Affairs at the Islamic University. Rizqa is considered one of Hamas cadres in the central region in Gaza Strip.
11. Dr. Mariam Mahmoud Hasan Saleh - Minister for Women Affairs
Married to agriculture engineer Nathmi Abdul Majid Misleh Tarifi and mother of seven children; she returned to the homeland in 1993 after they spent 22 years in Saudi Arabia. She lives in Irsal Quarter in al-Bireh City. she was born in Der Ammar Camp. her family is originally from the village of Bir Nabala / Lod and Ramleh. she holds a PhD in Islamic Sharia with distinction and recommendation to publish her dissertation from Um al-Qura University in Mecca in 1993. She had her masters from the same university in Mecca in 1986 and she got her BA in Islamic Sharia with honor and distinction from King Abdul Aziz University in Mecca in 1979. she got her secondary certificate from al-Bireh Female School in 1971. She has worked in al-Quds University since 1993 and she worked as visiting professor at al-Quds Open University in 2004/2005. She has many contributions and research in Islamic Culture and Political Rights of Women in Islam.
12. Dr. Ahmad al-Khaldi - Minister of Justice
Dr. Al-Khaldi from Nablus is considered one of the Palestinian technocrat figures and an expert in law. He is Dean of Law School at al-Najah University in Nabklus and he heads the Palestinian Constitution drafting committee.
13. Engineer Jamal al-Khudari - Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology
Independent, he was born in Gaza in 1955 and father of five children. he has a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Egypt. he worked in the Department of Telecommunications. he has been head of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic University for the last 14 years. he was deputy head of Engineers Syndicate and member of its board of directors between 1990 and 1997. he was member of Paltrade for two years. he is considered one of the leading members of trade unions in Palestine. he is a successful businessman and has strong relations with several diplomatic and official figures.
14. Abdul Rahman Zeidan - Minister of Public Works
(Hamas - Tulkarem - West Bank) - He is a refugee. He holds a BA in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama. Zeidan, 46, works as supervising engineer to PECDAR projects. he was in Israeli jails and is involved in community work.
15.Engineer Joudeh George Murqos – Minister of Toursim
Independent, Christain - from Bethlehem. Holds a BA degree in Civil Engineering. He currently the director of the engineering department at Bethlehem Municipality.
16. Dr. Atallah Abul Sabeh - Minister of Culture ,
He was born in al-Sawafeer al-Sharqia Village in 1948 and immigrated with his family while he was a baby and ended up settling with his family in Rafah Camp. He received his basic education in the UNRWA schools in Rafah and got his secondary education from Be'r Sabe' School with distinction and then joined the Teachers Training College in Ramallah where he graduated in 1969 majoring in science and mathematics and started to work at the UNRWA schools until 1984. he was member of the board of directors of Rafah Services Club between 1977 and 1978 and then he studied at the Islamic University in 1981 and became head of the students council at the university and he graduated with distinction majoring in Sharia. He got his masters in Sharia from al-Najah University and then got his PhD from Um Durman in Sudan with distinction and works as preacher in the mosques in Gaza Strip and became Dean of Students Affairs at the Islamic University from 1997 to 2001. He was arrested five times in the occupation prisons and he is well known in his writings in al-Risala newspaper and his main field in settlement of disputes on Sharia basis.
17. Engineer Ziad al-Thatha - Minister of Transportation
PhD in Civil Engineering from Egypt. he is 51 years old and is former deputy regional engineer at UNRWA. he is head of Palestinian Engineers Union in Gaza. he is involved in many charitable organizations.
18. Nayef Rjoub - Minister of Waqf
Sheikh Nayef Rjoub is a well known political leader and preaches for Islam in Hebron city and he wrote several books and he is an Imam and preacher and a well known figure in settlement reconciliation of conflicts in the city. he was arrested in the Israeli prisons several times; the first time he was arrested in 1989 and then he was arrested in 1994 and he was rearrested in 2005 and he was deported to Marj Zuhur in 1992. he is the brother of Brigadier Jibril Rjoob, adviser to President Abbas on National Security Affairs. he is considered one of the main leaders of Hamas in Hebron.
19. Samir Abu Eisheh - Minister of Planning
(Hamas, Nablus in the West Bank). He holds a PhD in Urban Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. he has been Vice President for Development and Planning at al-Najah University. He was also Dean of the Engineering faculty. he is 46 years old and was a visiting professor at several US universities (Washington and Texas, Germany (Braunschweig) and France (Lille). He served as consultant to several Palestinian universities and institutions including Planning Ministry as well as several ministries in Arab countries. he published 60 research studies on Planning.
20. Mohammed Ramadan al-Agha - Minister of Agriculture
Married with 3 children. he was born in 1959 in Khan Yunis. he holds a PhD in Environment and Water from Manchester University; he is a professor. he works at the Islamic University in Gaza since 1982. he was a visiting professor in several countries: Bremen University in Germany, Manchester University in Britain, and Virginia University in US. he is head of Environmental Studies Center in the Islamic University. he is a fellow at the American Society for Science Advancement and member of the American Federation of geophysicists and member in the British geology scientific society.
21.Engineer Khaled Abu Arafeh – Minister without Portfolio
he was born in Jerusalem in 1961. He is married and his wife works as teacher and holds a BS degree in Chemistry. He has three boys and two girls. He got his secondary education certificate from the Arab Kuwaiti Institute School in 1978 and then he got his BS in Electrical Engineering from the Technology University in Baghdad in 1983. In the years between 1987 and 1993, he worked a technical manager in Sinnoqrot Company for food products, then he worked in the field of trade and he has a store in Jerusalem where he sells construction materials. He is head of public relations in Silwan Charitable Society. He is head of Holy Quran Home Institute in Ras al-Amud and member of the Land Defense and Silwan Real Estate Committee and he was deputy head of Society Development Institute which was closed by the occupation authorities recently in Jerusalem and an active member in the engineering union. He is considered one of Hamas leaders in Jerusalem. He was arrested several times for his activities in Hamas (1981, 1987, 1989, 1993, and 1995).
22. Issa Kheiri Issa al-Ja'bari - Minister of Local Governance
he is married and father of two daughters. He is 40 years old. he holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Jordanian University in 1990. he holds a BA in Islamic Education from al-Quds Open University in 2002. he is a businessman and general director of Sons of Khairi al-Ja'bari Industrial Trade Firm in Hebron. he was a member of the board of directors in the Islamic Youth Association in Hebron between 1991 and 1996. he was member of the Board of Directors and secretary of the Islamic Charitable Commission in Hebron 2000-2005. he was arrested four times: 1993, 1996, 2002 and 2004.
23. Atef Udwan – Minister without Portfolio
from Bet Hanoun, he is married with seven children. He has a BA in Political Science from the College of Economy and Political Science in Cairo in 1978, and he has a higher diploma in Political Science from the Arab Studies and Research Institute at the Arab League. he holds Masters and PhD degrees from the British universities between 1983 and 1987. He got the associate professor title in 1996 and he got a professor title in Political Science in 2001. He worked as lecturer in political science when he started work at the Islamic University in 1981. He worked as students affairs dean at the Islamic University between 1987 and 1992. He worked as Dean of the Commerce College at the Islamic University between 1995 and 1999. He headed Future Studies Center for Research and Political Survey and Polls. as for political activities, he was an officer in popular liberation forces between 1969 and 1975. he was imprisoned on charges of working in armed struggle in 1971 for three years and he was arrested several times by the occupation authorities and the PNA on charges of Hamas membership. he was deported to Marj Zuhur in 1992. he has been member of the PNC since 1996 and worked as political and economic adviser to Sheikh Ahmad Yasin for several years. he worked as a journalist and author in more than 7 Arab periodicals and editor of International "Muslim Palestine" newspaper for 4 years.
24. Muhammed Barghouthi - Minister of Labor
25. Mohammed Awad – Chief of Cabinet
He was born in 1960; he is married and father of five children. He currently holds the post of Vice President of the Islamic University on Information Technology Affairs and holds the title of professor in Engineering. Professor Awad was Dean of the Engineering College at the Islamic University 2003-2005 and Dean of Planning and Development 2001-2003. He is deputy head of the engineering syndicate in Gaza since 2004 and member of the American Engineering Association and member of Engineering Union in Rafah.
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