Biograhpy of PA Cabinet

1- Ismail Hanieh - Prime Minister (Hamas)
leading figure in Hamas. b.1962, Shati camp, to a family from Ashqulon. Studied Arabic literature at IUG, graduating in 1987. Was imprisoned by Israel for most of period 1988-92, before being deported to Marj al-Zuhhur in South Lebanon. Allowed to return in Dec93, serving as dean of IUG.
Was in favor of participation in 1996 PLC elections, putting his name forward initially as an independent candidate before eventually backing down on 2Jan06. Appointed assistant to Ahmad Yassin on his release from prison in 1997. Believed to have been appointed to the three-person collective leadership of Hamas in Palestine in Apr04; led the campaign in the Jan06 elections, and took prime minister's position subsequently.
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- Azzam al-Ahmad - Deputy PM and State Minister (Fatah)
PA minister of telecommunications and IT from Apr03 (previously minister of public works, with housing portfolio added on 9Jun02). b.1947, Jenin. BA in Economics from Baghdad Uni. Head of GUPS in Iraq from 1971-4; deputy head of GUPS' Executive Committee from 1974-80; PLO ambassador to Iraq from 1979-94. Fatah-RC member from 1989. A PLC member, was elected in the Jenin district as a Fatah candidate.

3- Dr. Salam Fayyad - Minister of Finance (Independent - member of Third Way Bloc in the PLC)
PA Minister of Finance from 9Jun02. b.1952, Dayr al-Ghassun nr Tulkarm, studied at the AUB (BSc in Engineering) & then in the US; holds a masters in accountancy and a PhD in economics (both from the Uni of Texas). Worked as a university economist before moving to work at the World Bank HQ in Washington from 1987-95. After that, was IMF resident representative in Palestine until 2001(?), based in Jerusalem. With creation of PA, frequently called for greater financial accountability & helped to arrange a package of financial reforms with the Finance ministry, including the overturning of monopolies held by the PA. Was briefly the West Bank head of the Arab Bank before his appointment to the cabinet. Was widely tipped to become prime minister, after ‘Arafat agreed to create this position (Feb03), but seems to have rejected this possibility.

4- Dr. Ziad Abu Amer - Minister for Foreign Affairs (Independent)
Ziad Abu Amer, born 1950, Gaza City. Dr. Abu Amr is married with four children. He holds a BA in English Literature and Language, Damascus University, Syria, and MA and PhD in Comparative Politics, Georgetown University. Dr. Abu Amr has been teaching political science at Birzeit University, Ramallah, West Bank since 1985. He has published several books and papers, the most internationally known is "Islamic Fundamentalism in the West Bank and Gaza: Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Jihad."
In 1996, he was elected to the Palestine Legislative Council (PLC) as an independent to represent Gaza City. He held the post of Chairman of the Palestine Legislative Council's Political Committee. In 2003, he was nominated to be the Minister of Culture in the new Palestinian Authority cabinet. He is a member of an independent party. Dr. Abu Amr is associated with the Palestine Center in Washington; he is the President of the Palestinian Council of Foreign Relations; and the Deputy Secretary-General of MIFTAH, a Palestinian civil rights organization.
Dr. Abu Amr is a reform minded politician who has mentored and shares philosophies with the "young guard" of Palestinian elected leaders (elected leaders in the PLC who oppose the "old guard" PLO revolutionaries who are loyal to Yasser Arafat).. He has, at times, been critical of the Palestinian Authority administration and security services. He has called for open elections. Dr. Abu Amr is popular with young, reform minded Palestinians. Dr. Abu Amr is a proponent of democratic elections and has suggested Hamas and Islamic Jihad be allowed representation as opposition groups. He believes they would then be more accountable for their actions.
PLC member for Gaza city, PA minister for culture. b.1950; BA in English lit & language from Damascus Uni; worked as a teacher in Bahrain, Oman, Syria; then MA & PhD (1986) from Georgetown Uni on comparative politics. Teaches pol sci at BZU; books on Islamist movements & politics in Gaza 1948-67. Connected to Centre for Policy Analysis on Palestine (Washington) & Centre for Palestine Research & Studies (Nablus). Chair of PLC Pol committee, member of PLO-CC. Opposed amending the PN Charter at Apr96 PNC, until Israel gave reciprocal recognition of Palestinian right to statehood; criticized PA for arresting leftist activists in Dec01 statement. Widely respected, he organised the talks between the 12 major Palestinian factions within the WBG to determine the direction of the intifada in Jul-Aug02. Highly critical of the PA cabinet formed on 29Oct02.

5- Hani Talab al-Qawasmi - Minister of Interior (Independent)
He was born in Gaza; the origins of his family are from Hebron in the West Bank; his father came to Gaza in 1949 and settled there. He is married with five children. He got his BA degree in Accounting from Cairo University and pursued his studies and got a high diploma in Human Resources from Cairo University. Al-Qawasmi worked at the religious al-Azhar Institute for 10 years. He worked with the establishment of the PNA in the Civil Affairs Ministry for 7 years. He currently works as General Director of Administrative Affairs at the Interior Ministry upon a decision from the Cabinet.

6- Dr. Nasser Eddin al-Sha'er - Minister of Education (Hamas)
a prominent academic from al-Najjah University in Nablus, and Hamas member. b. 1961, Nablus, training at al-Najjah and securing a PhD in Manchester Uni, UK, in Middle Eastern studies. Later worked as a research scholar on religion & democracy at New York Uni, focusing on US history (1998). Took position of dean of Islamic Studies & Law at al-Najjah in 2001. Appointed education minister and deputy prime minister in March 2006.
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.

7- Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi - Minister of Information (Head of the Palestinian National Initiative, member of Independent Palestine Bloc in the PLC)
b.1954; physician, president of the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees, former leader of the PPP, director of the Health, Development, Information and Policy Institute (HDIP) in Ramallah, Palestine. HDIP produces Palestine Monitor, which distributes info on behalf of Palestinian NGOs. PNC member (PPP); stood for election to PLC (Ramallah district), & narrowly missed out, despite a recount. Member of the Steering Committee of the technical committee that prepared the establishment of various Palestinian ministries. Serves as spokesperson for various pro-democracy blocs, including the Palestinian National Initiative (launched in Jun02) of which he serves as the Secretary-General. Reportedly resigned from the PPP in late 2002.
Dr. Barghouthi was born in Jerusalem and holds a PhD in medicine, a post graduate degree in philosophy and a Masters Degree in Administration and building Administrative Systems. In 1979, he was elected as the president of the Medical Relief Committee, which he had established with a number of colleagues. He was shot by the Israeli army in 1996, arrested in 2002 and banned from entering Jerusalem. He is currently the Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Al Moubadara, which he established in cooperation with Dr. Haidar Abdul Shafi, Ibrahim Daqqaq and the late Dr. Edward Said.
Dr. Barghouthi was one of the leaders in: the campaign against the apartheid wall at The Hague; the international solidarity movement with the Palestinian people and the international campaign to impose sanctions on Israel. He resigned from the Madrid Negotiations delegation in protest against the course of the negotiations which led to the Oslo Accords and the continuation of Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Dr. Bargouthi was awarded several international prizes, including the prize of the International Health Organization in 2002 and the award of defending the Palestinian Human Rights from the Struggle Against Racial Discrimination Organization.

8- Bassam al-Salhi - Minister of Culture - (General Secretary of the Palestinian People's Party, member of the Alternative Bloc in the PLC)
born in the Amari refugee camp in 1960. He obtained his masters degree in international studies and authored several books and political studies. He was elected as the head of the student council at Birzeit University between 1979 and 1981. He led the student movement against the Camp David Agreements for which he was arrested several times and placed under house arrest.
He was a member in the National Unified Command of the first Intifada, during which time he was arrested and sentenced to 3 years in prison and an additional 3 years under probation. He participated in the leadership commission of the Tunnel Intifada of 1996 and the Al- Aqsa Intifada of 2000. He is a member of the National Guidance Committee, the Palestinian National Council and the Palestinian Central Council.
Recently, Mr. Al-Salhi was a member of the Palestinian delegation to attend court sessions at The Hague that dealt with the issue of the Apartheid Wall. He was also a member of the follow-up Committee on the same file. He has devoted much of his work to mobilize international support for the Palestinian people.
He is a Secretary General of the Palestinian People's Party and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He was the party's candidate for the Presidential elections held in 2005. He received 2.67% of the vote.
He was one of the two deputies elected from the Alternative Party at the PLC elections, 2006.

9- Radwan al-Akhras - Minister of Health - (Fatah)
Physician. Fatah member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)

10- Sa'di al-Krunz - Minister of Transportation (Fatah)
PA minister of transport from Apr03; previously minister for industry from Aug98-Jun02. b.1958, al-Burayj, from a refugee family from al-Faluja. Trained in maths, achieving a BA at Mansura Uni Egypt, a MSc in Saskatchewan, Canada and a PhD at Purdue Uni. Worked as head of the maths and statistics dept at al-Azhar Uni in Gaza, then at Islamic Uni of Gaza. Lives in Nusayrat camp. Elected as a Fatah candidate to the PLC for Dayr al-Balah.

11- Mahmoud al-Aloul - Minister of Labor (Fatah)
He was born in Nablus in 1950. he holds a BA in Geography from the Arab University of Beirut. He joined Fatah in 1967 and was arrested several times by the Israeli troops. He was imprisoned for three years and then was deported to Jordan. Former Nablus Governor and member of Fatah Revolutionary Council. One of the leading assistants to Abu Jihad who was assassinated by Israel in 1988. two of his sons were killed during al-Aqsa Intifada and enjoys wide support among Fatah people.

12- Saleh Zeidan - Minister of Social Affairs (DFLP)
originally, he is from al-Damoun Village in Acre in Palestine. he was born on December 15, 1949 in Lebanon- he grew up at Nahr al-Bared Refugee Camp in northern Lebanon. He is married and has one son. He has a diploma from Teachers College and pursued university studies. He worked as a teacher at the UNRWA schools in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon before devoting his time for struggle and politics. He has been a member of the PNC since 1977 and a member of the Palestinian Central Council of the PLO since 1991. He was one of the commanders of the battle defending Tal al-Za'tar Camp (1975-1976). he was one of the leading figures in the leadership institutions of the revolution and the PLO in Lebanon. in the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, he has been a member of the Front Central Committee since 1977 and member of the Front's Politburo since 1989. he assumed the position of DFLP official in Lebanon from 1988 until 1996. official of the Front in Gaza Strip since mid 1996 until now.

13- Taysir Abu Sneineh - Minister of Prisoners Affairs (Fatah)
He was born in Hebron. He served as Director of Waqf office in Hebron. He spent some time teaching at a school in Doura town in Hebron.

14- Dr. Samir Abu Eisheh - Minister of Planning (Hamas)
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.

15- Mohammed al-Barghouthi - Minister of Local Government (Hamas)
Former PA Minister of Labor in the tenth government. Arrested by the Israelis with Hamas Ministers spent 48 days and was released.

16- Ziad al-Thatha - Minister of Economy (Hamas)
PhD in Civil Engineering from Egypt. he is 51 years old and is former deputy regional engineer at UNRWA. He was head of Palestinian Engineers Union in Gaza. he is involved in many charitable organizations.

17- Dr. Basem Naim - Minister of Youth and Sports (Hamas)
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

18- Dr. Yousef al-Mansi - Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology (Hamas)
PHD, Dean of Engineering College in Islamic University / Gaza. He was born in Gaza in 1953. he got his Masters and PhD degrees in architecture from Azhar University in Cairo. He worked as an architect in the field of designing and supervising several projects at the Hajj and Waqf Ministry in Riyadh for 13 years.

19- Dr. Mohammed al-Agha - Minister of Agriculture (Hamas)
he was born in Khan Yunis in 1959 and he is a professor at the Islamic University in Gaza in 2005. he got his PhD in Sciences from Manchester University in Britain in 1995 and got his maters degree from the Jordanian University in 1986. he got his BS in Science from Cairo University. Dr. al-Agha published more than 40 papers in the field of environment and water in world known journals in Britain, the United States, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Palestine. he got the King Hussein Award for Outstanding Students at the level of Jordan in 1986. he worked as visiting professor in several international universities in Europe and the United States: Manchester University in Britain in 1995, Bremen University in Germany in 1999 and Virginia University in 2000.

20- Khouloud D'eibes - Minister of Tourism
She was born on April 16, 1965. Independent. She is married. She studied one year 1982-1983 at the Engineering College at Birzeit University. She got her masters degree 1983-1999 in architecture from Hanover University in Germany. She got her PhD in architecture in 1995 at Hanover University in German majoring in renovating architectural heritage and strategies and solutions to protect and develop the Palestinian cultural heritage. She has been General Director of the center to preserve Cultural Heritage /Bethlehem 2000 Project since 2001. Christian - from Bethlehem.

21- Dr. Samih al-Abed - Minister of Public Works (Fatah)
He was born in al-Bireh in 1947. he holds a BS in Engineering and Planning in 1970. he also holds a Masters Degree in city planning and design in 1972 from the United States and holds a PhD in Developmental and Regional Planning in 1987. he held the post of head of Architecture department at Birzeit University and was one of the first teams which worked with PECDAR. He was Deputy Minister of the Palestinian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and member of the Palestinian team for final status negotiations.

22- Ali al Sartawi – Minister of Justice (Hamas)
he was born in the village of Sarta in 1967. he is married and has five children. He holds a PhD in Law. He is Dean of the Faculty of Law at An-Najah University, Nablus. He is specialized in the Islamic economy and banking systems and legal legislations

23- Hussein Tartouri – Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs (Hamas)
he was born on June 25, 1954. He holds the academic title of professor and is the Dean of Higher Studies College at Sharia College at Hebron University. He holds a PhD in Islamic Studies from Um al-Qura University in Mecca.

24- Amal Syam – Minister of Woman Affairs (Hamas)
She was born in 1962 in Gaza. She has lived in Bethlehem city for the last 25 years and she is wife to Sheikh Ghassan Hirmas, a leading Hamas figure in Bethlehem. She is mother of four children. She obtained her Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from Al Quds University and teaches at al-Quds Open University.