Cabinet Secretary:
Dr. Hasan Abu Libdeh
Biograhpy of PA Cabinet
1. AHMAD QREI (ABU ALA) – PRIME MINISTER (FATEH)
Born in Abu Dis, Palestine in 1937.
Political Career
Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council & PLC member for Jerusalem. Joined Fateh in 1968. Had been director of PLO’s foreign investment arm, director-general of PLO’s economic department & member of financial subcommittee; elected to Fateh Cenrral Committee in Aug89. Had a key role in negotiating Oslo accords as chief of delegation, & headed negotiations which led to the Apr. 94 Paris agreement & Sept95 Oslo II agreement. Is chief negotiator in the final status talks. Minister of Economy & Trade, then Minister for Industry, in the first PA cabinets, before the PLC elections (1994-6); prepared the PLO’s development strategy for the OTs in “Programme for Development of the Palestinian national economy, 1994-2000”, and became Managing-Director of PECDAR since its creation in 1993. Obtained the highest number of votes in Jerusalem in the PNC elections. Has good relations with West Bank NGOs, and is generally seen as “pro-democracy”; won 60/73 votes in PLC re-election for Speaker in Mar 2000.
2- SALAM FAYYAD – MINISTER OF FINANCE (INDEPENDENT)
Born in Dayr al-Ghussun, Palestine in 1952, Dr. Fayyad is married with three children.
Political Career
Since October 2002, Dr. Fayyad has served as the Minister of Finance. His commitment to transparency and proper accounting practices led to extensive audits of PA accounts. In 2003, he submitted the first publicly disclosed PA budget that was approved by the PLC. He is also the Chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund, the Board of Insurance and the Salaries Fund.
Career
In 1987, Dr. Fayyad began his career as an economist working at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. From 1995 to 2001, Dr. Fayyad was the IMF’s representative in Jerusalem, where he worked on financial reform for the PA Ministry of Finance. Prompted by a sense of civic responsibility to reform the financial system of the PA, Dr. Fayyad resigned from his post as the Head of the Arab Bank in the Occupied West Bank in order to serve as the Minister of Finance in 2002.
Education
Dr. Fayyad holds a Ph.D. in Economics (University of Texas), an MBA in Accounting (University of Texas) and a B.Sc. in Engineering (American University of Beirut).
Dr. Fayyad has authored a number of research papers on the Palestinian economy. He is known for his no-nonsense attitude regarding transparency and fiscal responsibility.
3- NABEEL SHA’ATH – FOREIGN MINISTER (FATEH)
Born in Safad, Palestine in 1938, Dr. Shaath lived in exile and returned to the Gaza Strip in June 1994. He is married with four children.
Political Career
Dr. Shaath previously served as the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, a position he held since 1994. He was elected to the PLC in 1996 representing Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip.
A long-time figure in Palestinian politics, Dr. Shaath has been a member of the Fateh Central Committee since 1971 and served as the Director of the PLO Planning Center in Beirut. In 1974, he headed the PLO’s first delegation to the United Nations. In 1991, Dr. Shaath was a member of the Madrid Peace Delegation and later was involved in negotiations with Israel that led to the signing of the Oslo Agreements. From 1993 to 1995, he served as the head of the Palestinian negotiation team, and participated in later negotiations with Israel, including those conducted at Camp David (2000) and Taba (2001). He has also represented Occupied Palestine at the World Economic Forum.
Career
As a public planning and transportation consultant, Dr. Shaath worked extensively throughout the Arab world, establishing both the Engineering and Management Institute and the Center for Administrative Development, which offers management training in 14 offices throughout the Arab world.
Dr. Shaath taught economics at the University of Cairo, the University of Alexandria (Egypt) and the University of Pennsylvania from 1961 to 1970. From 1969 to 1975, he was the Dean of the School of Business Administration at the American University in Beirut.
His interest in education prompted him to found the Dar al-Fata al-Arabi, the only institution in the Arab world dedicated to publishing books for children and young readers.
Education
Dr. Shaath holds a J.D. in Law (University of Pennsylvania), a Ph.D. in Economics and Administrative Science (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania), an MBA in Finance and Banking (University of Pennsylvania) and a B.A. in Business Administration (University of Alexandria, Egypt). Dr. Shaath is an avid piano player and enjoys reading poetry.
4- HAKAM BALAWI (FATAH) - INTERIOR MINISTER
Born in Al-Bala, Palestine in 1939, Mr. Balawi is married with four children and seven grandchildren.
Political Career
Elected in 1996 to the PLC representing Tulkarem, Mr. Balawi was Palestine’s Ambassador to Libya from 1973 to 1975 and the Ambassador to Tunisia from 1975 to 1994. He was also a representative to the Arab League for 12 years.
A Fatah activist, Mr. Balawi is a member of the Fatah Central Committee, the Fatah Central Council and the Fatah Revolutionary Council. He was the Deputy Head of the Central Information Committee of Fatah from 1968 to 1978.
From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Balawi served as the Commissioner-General of the National Security Agencies and Secretary of National Security Council. He is the Minister of the Interior representing Occupied Palestine in Council of Arab Interior Ministers.
He is a member of the PNC.
The Secretary of the Union of Palestinian Journalists and Writers, Mr. Balawi is the author of several plays and novels.
Education
He holds Diplomas in Administration, Journalism and Education.
5- SAEB EREKAT (FATAH) – MINISTER OF NEGOTIATION AFFAIRS
Born in 1955 in East Jerusalem, Palestine, Dr. Erekat is married with four children.
Political Career
Previously Dr. Erekat served as the Minister of Local Government, a position he held since 1994. In 1993, he was appointed the Head of the Central Elections Commission that prepared for presidential and legislative elections. He resigned from this post in December 1995 to run for elections for Jericho. He was elected to the PLC in 1996.
In 1991, Dr. Erekat was the Vice-Chair of the Madrid Peace Delegation and was later the Vice-Chair at the Washington negotiations of 1992. In 1994, Dr. Erekat was appointed the Chairman of the Palestinian delegation for negotiations on elections and has since been a senior member of the Palestinian negotiation team. He has been extensively involved in all negotiations with Israel, including those conducted at Camp David (2000) and in Taba (2001). He is the Head of the Steering and Monitoring Committee of the Negotiations Affairs Department.
Career
Dr. Erekat is a professor of political science at An-Najah University in Nablus.
Dr. Erekat served on the editorial board of Al-Quds newspaper, the Palestinian daily with the highest circulation. He also served as the Secretary-General of the Arab Studies Society.
Education
Dr. Erekat holds a Ph.D. in Peace Studies (Bradford University), and a B.A. and M.A. in International Relations (University of San Francisco).
Dr. Erekat is the author of eight books and numerous research papers on Middle East politics and conflict resolution.
He enjoys swimming and running.
6- NAIM ABU HOMMOS (FATAH) – MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION
Born in Birzeit, Palestine in 1955, Dr. Abu Hommos is a refugee from Lydda, Palestine (now Lod, Israel). Dr. Abu Hommos is married with five children.
Political Career
A long-time Palestinian activist, Dr. Abu Hommos joined the Fatah party at the age of 14, and later became a member of the Palestinian National Council. He has served as the Minister of Education since 2002. In 1994, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Education. Since 1989, Dr. Abu Hommos has served as the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Council for Higher Education.
Career
From 1982 to 1989, Dr. Abu Hommos served as the head of the Education and Psychology Departments at An-Najah University in Nablus. He later headed the General Exam Committee and the Textbook Development Committee. Dr. Abu Hommos is the author of eight books in the fields of education and politics.
Education
Dr. Abu Hommos holds a Ph.D. in Education (San Francisco State University), an M.A. in Special Education (San Francisco State University) and a B.A. in Education (University of Jordan).
He enjoys reading, archaeology and hiking.
7- MAHER MASRI (FATAH) – MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY
Born in 1946 in Nablus, Palestine, Mr. Masri is married with two children.
Political Career
Mr. Masri was elected to the PLC in 1996 representing the city of Nablus. Since 1996, he has served as the Minister of Economy and Trade. A proponent of a free Palestinian market, Mr. Masri was responsible for negotiating the 1994 Paris Economic Protocol with Israel, an agreement designed to build the Palestinian economy on free market principles.
He was a member of the Palestinian delegation at the Camp David negotiations (2000).
In his position as Minister of Economy and Trade, Mr. Masri serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Palestinian Investment Promotion Agency; the Palestinian Industrial Estates and Free Zones Area and the Palestinian Banking Corporation. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Investment Fund.
Career
From 1987 until 1996, Mr. Masri was the General Manager of the Vegetable Oil Company in Nablus. He served on the Board of Directors of several private sector enterprises and was the Chairman of the Board of the Palestinian Development Fund, a non-governmental organization that provides loans for industrial and agricultural projects in Palestine. He was an economist in Beirut and later worked in the private sector in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Education
Mr. Masri holds an M.A. and a B.A. in Economics (American University of Beirut).
8- NAHED AL-RAYYES - MINISTER OF JUSTICE (FATAH)
Born in 1939 from Gaza. He worked as a judge. PLC member for Gaza District. He holds a BA in Law. He is married.
9- JAWAD TIBI – MINISTER OF HEALTH (FATEH)
Dr. Tibi was born in 1959 in Khan Yunis – Gaza, Palestine
Political Career
A popular Palestinian lawmaker. A peace activist; member of Fateh, he was imprisoned by Israel for 8 years. Four of his brothers were killed by the Israeli military Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, PLC – Khan Yunis District; Education and Social Affairs Committee Rapporteur, Refugee Affairs and Palestinians Abroad Committee.
Career
Physician, General Surgeon.
Education
MA in Surgery
10- ABDUL RAHMAN HAMAD: PA MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING
Chair of Palestinian Energy Authority from Feb. 95. Born in 1944, from Bayt Hanun; he holds a PhD in electrical engineering from Wisconsin University (1975), going onto to Unis at Baghdad (1976-80) & Birzeit (1980-94), where he became dean of engineering faculty. Part of Palestinian delegation at Madrid talks; leading role in PECDAR (1994-6), before that he won seat to PLC (Jabalya) & ministerial appointment, initially as Minister of Housing.
11- INTISAR AL-WAZEER - MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Born in 1941 in Gaza City, Ms al-Wazir is a widow with five children.
Political Career
A long-time figure in Palestinian politics, Um Jihad joined the Fatah party in 1959, becoming the party’s first female member. She participated in the first conference for Palestinian women in 1965 and was instrumental in founding the General Union for Palestinian Women, an organization that focuses on the social, economic and legal status of Palestinian women.
Her interest in social affairs prompted her to found numerous centers for women, literacy training and rehabilitation including the Social Affairs Committee and the Martyrs’ Families Organization and the Committee for Prisoners and the Injured. Currently, Um Jihad is the director of a number of committees focusing on women, the elderly and care for the disabled.
Um Jihad has been a member of the PNC since 1974 and a member of the Fatah Central Committee since 1987. From 1980 to 1985, Um Jihad was the Secretary-General of the General Union of Palestinian Women. In 1983, she served as the Deputy Secretary-General of the Fatah Revolutionary Council.
Um Jihad lived in exile for thirty years with her husband, Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad), the co-founder of the Fatah party, and leader of the first Palestinian uprising. In 1988, he was assassinated by Israel in his home in Tunisia.
Um Jihad returned to the Gaza Strip in 1995 and was elected to the PLC in 1996. Since 1995, she has served as the Minister of Social Affairs.
Education
Um Jihad holds a B.A. in History (Damascus University).
12- AZZAM AL-AHMAD - MINISTER OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
Born in Jenin, Palestine in 1947, Mr. Ahmed is married with three children.
Political Career
Elected in 1996 to the PLC representing Jenin, Mr. Ahmed has served as the Minister of Public Works and Housing since 1996. Previously, he served as the PLO representative to Iraq from 1979 until 1994.
Mr. Ahmed was head of the General Union of Palestinian Students in Iraq from 1971 and 1974. He became the Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the General Union of Palestinian Students from 1974 to 1980. In 1989, he was elected to the Fatah Revolutionary Council.
He is a member of the PNC.
Education
Mr. Ahmed holds a B.A. in Economics (Baghdad University).
13- JAMAL SHOBAKI - MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Mr. Shobaki was born in 1952 in Ithna, Palestine. He is a refugee from Bayt Jibrin, Palestine (now Beit Guvrin, Israel). He is married with three children.
Political Career
Mr. Shobaki’s political career began as an activist. A member of Fatah, he was imprisoned by Israel for ten years for his activism during the first Palestinian uprising against occupation. He is a member of the PLO Central Council, and a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council.
In 1996, he was elected to the PLC representing the Hebron District. He is head of the PLC Economic Committee, a member of the PLC Political Committee and a member of the PLC Political Prisoners Committee.
Education
Mr. Shobaki holds a B.A. in Geography (Beirut Arab University).
14- YAHIA YAKHLOF - MINISTER OF CULTURE
Born in 1944 in the village of Samakh, bordering Lake Tiberias. He is a married father of three.
Political Career
Mr. Yakhluf joined the PLO in 1967. For many years, he was the secretary-general of the Palestinian Writers Union, assistant secretary-general of the Arab Writers Union, and director general of the PLO’s cultural department. Since 1994, he has been deputy minister of culture in the Palestinian National Authority.
Education
In 1971 Mr. Yakhlof obtained a BA in Arabic literature from the Beirut Arab university.
15- NABEEL KASSIS (INDEPENDENT) – MINISTER OF PLANNING
Born in 1945, a native of Ramallah, Dr. Kassis is married with two children.
Political Career
Dr. Kassis previously served as the Minister of Tourism in 2002. In 1998, he was appointed a Minister of State (without portfolio) in charge of the Bethlehem 2000 Project.
As a proponent of transparency and reform Dr. Kassis was, in 1997, appointed member of the Special Committee for the Investigation of the Auditor’s Report. Currently, he is the coordinator of the Ministerial Committee for Reform, a committee charged with overseeing reforms of the Palestinian Authority.
Dr. Kassis was a member of the Madrid Peace Delegation in 1991 and a deputy head of the negotiation delegation at the Washington talks in 1992 to 1993. He later became the Director-General of the Technical and Advisory Committee to the Palestinian negotiation team, established to do preparatory work for the transition to Palestinian self-government. He was a member of the Palestinian delegation on final status negotiations in 1999. He is a member of the Steering and Monitoring Committee of the Negotiations Affairs Department.
Career
A trained theoretical nuclear physicist, Dr. Kassis taught physics in Germany, Italy, France, England, Lebanon and Jordan before joining Birzeit University in 1980.
As lecturer, Chairman of the Physics Department and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Kassis was heavily involved in keeping the university running at a time when the Israeli occupation made a practice of closing down Palestinian universities for prolonged periods.
He is the founder of the Palestine Institute for Economic Policy Research, a Palestinian think-tank focusing on the Palestinian economy.
Education
Dr. Kassis holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics (American University in Beirut) and a M.Sc. in Nuclear Physics (University of Mainz, Germany). He is fluent in English and German.
He enjoys architecture, skiing and gardening.
16- MITRI ABU EITAH - MINISTER OF TOURISM AND ARCHEOLOGY
Born in 1941 in Bethlehem, Mr. Abu Aita is married.
Political Career
Elected in 1996 to the PLC, Mr. Abu Aita served as the Deputy Speaker of the PLC from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, he served as the Minister of Tourism and was later appointed as the Minister of Transportation in June 2002.
Career
An active lawyer, Mr. Abu Aita served as the Chairman of the Jordan Bar Association from 1994 to 1998 and was involved in the hotel and tourist industry for more than 20 years.
Education
Mr. Abu Aita holds a B.A. in Law (Damascus University).
17- HISHAM ABDUL RAZEQ - MINISTER OF PRISONERS AFFAIRS
Born in 1953 in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Mr. Abdalraziq is a refugee from Zarnuqa, Palestine (now Zarnoqa and Rechovot, Israel). He is married with five children.
Political Career
A member of the Fatah party, Mr. Abdalraziq was elected to the PLC in 1996 representing the Jabalya District. He was imprisoned by Israel for 21 years for political activism and was released in 1994. Upon his release, he became a member of the Higher Committee of Fatah in Gaza and was later appointed Minister of Prisoner Affairs in 1998.
Education
Mr. Abdalraziq holds a B.A. in the Israeli Political System (Al-Quds University).
While in prison, Mr. Abdalraziq wrote two poetry collections and a novel.
18- HIKMAT ZEID - MINISTER OF TRANSPORT
Born in 1949, Jenin. PLC member of Jenin District. Fateh. Former PA Ambassador in Hungary.
19- SALAH TA'MARI - MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS
Asad Abdul Qader Ta’mari. Born in 1943. PLC member of Bethlehem District. Fateh.
Political Career
A Nasserite, but joined Fatah in 1965, and became S-G of GUPS in Cairo. After 1967, was a Fatah commander in Jordan, taking control of Karama base. Also married Dina ‘Abd al-Hamid, King Hussein's ex-wife. Left Amman only after PLO-CC intervention in 1971; then worked in South Lebanon as the head of the PLO’s youth wing. Arrested by IDF in Sidon in 1982; after solitary confinement for three months, was transferred to Ansar prison camp in South Lebanon, where he became chairman of the internees’ committee.
Won position in PLC as an independent, when not placed on the official slate, with easily the highest number of votes in the district; member of PLO-CC.
Appointed spokesman of PA's "Emergency committee for the defence of Palestinian lands" (famously meeting British foreign sec Robin Cook at Jabal Abu Ghnaym in Mar 98); and then given PA cabinet position, with new position to combat settlements, in Aug 98. Member of Negotiations Affairs Department, with special responsibility for Israeli settlements.
Former Minister of State 1998 - 2001.
Education
Mr. Ta'mari holds a BA in English literature from Cairo University
20- GHASSAN KHATIB (PALESTINIAN PEOPLE’S PARTY) - MINISTER OF LABOR
Born in Nablus, Palestine in 1954, Mr. Khatib is married with three children.
Political Career
He was a member of the Madrid Peace Delegation in 1991 and was involved in the Washington negotiations from 1991 to 1993. He was appointed Minister of Labor in 2002. He is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian People’s Party.
Career
Mr. Khatib served as a lecturer at Birzeit University’s Cultural Studies Program from 1982 to 2002.
Mr. Khatib founded the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, a non-governmental organization that conducts public opinion polls and provides media support to journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He served as its director from 1988 to 2002.
A long-time advocate of Palestinian-Israeli dialogue, Mr. Khatib is the Co-founder and Co-editor of BitterLemons.org, a Palestinian-Israeli internet-based political magazine. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Israel-Palestine Journal, a political journal offering Palestinian and Israeli perspectives.
Mr. Khatib is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends Schools in Palestine. He formerly served as President of the Board of Directors of the Arab Development Center, an agricultural development organization, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Democracy and Worker’s Rights Center.
Mr. Khatib was a political prisoner in Israel from 1974 to1978 and has been detained several times thereafter.
Education
Mr. Khatib holds an M.A. in Development Studies (Manchester University) and a B.A. in Economics and Business Administration (Birzeit University). He is pursuing a doctorate in Middle East Politics (University of Durham).
21- RAWHI FATTOUH - MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
Born in 1953, Rafah. PLC member of Rafah District. Fateh. Head of Popular Organization.
22- JAMIL TARIFI - MINISTER OF CIVIL AFFAIRS
PLC member of Ramallah District [Independent]. Fatah member
Political Career
Member of Palestinian delegation to Madrid talks. Was a member of the safe passage negotiating team. Former Minister of Civil Affairs 1998 - 2001.
Career
Lawyer. Deputy Mayor of al-Bireh city 1976 - 1982.
Mr. Tarifi Seen as a leader of the business community in Ramallah.
Education
Mr. Tarifi holds a BA in Law from Cairo University.
23- ZUHAIRA KAMAL - MINISTER IN CHARGE OF WOMEN AFFAIRS
Born in 1945. Fida and women's leader in West Bank.
Political Career
Founder (in 1978) & head of the DFLP-affiliated Women's Work Committee, which became the Union of Palestinian Women’s Action Committees in 1989. Became member of DFLP's politburo, & was held in administrative detention for 6 months in 1979; & then placed under town arrest (in Jerusalem) from Jun80-Mar86.
Joined Fida in the DFLP split; became a member of its Executive Committee.
Participated in 1st all-women meetings with leading Israeli female politicians in May 89 Brussels conference; & joined ‘Abd-Rabbu as a member of the Madrid delegation in 1991.
From 1992, headed technical committee on women's affairs, dealing with interim negotiations.
Career
Emerged as leading activist at UNRWA's teacher training center for women in Ramallah where she worked.
Retained UPWAC position until 1992,
Appointed head of the PA's Gender Planning & Development Directorate (within Planning & International Development Ministry) in Nov95.
Education
Trained as a physics teacher, after physics training at Cairo University & education diploma in Jordan.
24- QADDURA FARES - MINISTER OF STATE
Abed Al-Qder Faris Hamed. Born in 1953, Silwad village, Ramallah, PLC member of Ramallah District, Fateh.
25- SULEIMAN ABU SNEINEH - MINISTER OF STATE
Born in 1946, Hebron, PLC member of Hebron District. Fateh. Education: BA in Law
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