Ziad Abu Amr
Ziad Abu Amr (Arabic: زياد أبو عمرو; born 1950) is a Palestinian politician, author, and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. From 18 March 2007 to 17 June 2007, he was Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority. On 6 June 2013, Ziad Abu-Amr was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority by President Mahmoud Abbas.[1]
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Background[edit]
Born in Gaza City in 1950, Abu Amr later attended Damascus University in Syria, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Language.[2] He obtained a master's and doctorate degree in Comparative Politics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C..[3] After working as a teacher in Bahrain, Oman, and Syria, he began teaching Political Science at Birzeit University in Ramallah in 1985.
Political career[edit]
Running as an independent candidate in the 1996 Palestinian general election, he won a seat in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) representing Gaza City. During this period, he was chairman of the PLC's political committee.
He was re-elected in legislative elections that took place on 25 January 2006, winning 55,748 votes.[4]
From April to October 2003, he was Minister of Culture in the government of Prime Minister (now President) Mahmoud Abbas.[5][6]
After a period of factional violence in the Palestinian territories in early 2007, the Hamas-led government resigned on 15 February. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh formed a new national unity government with Abu Amr as foreign minister.[7] The cabinet was approved by the PLC and its members took office on 18 March.
On 6 June 2013, Ziad Abu-Amr was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority by President Mahmoud Abbas.[1]
He is associated with many political associations, including the Palestine Center in Washington D.C., the Palestinian Council on Foreign Relations, and MIFTAH, a Palestinian civil rights organization.[3]
Political ideology and views[edit]
Abu Amr is considered a reform minded politician and part of the "young guard" of Palestinian leaders. He has, at times, been critical of the Palestinian Authority administration and security services.[2][3] He has mediated talks between the two main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, and is widely respected by both groups.[2][6]
A proponent of democracy and democratic elections, he has been a supporter of representation for opposition groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, claiming that they would be held more accountable for their actions.[2]
Miscellaneous[edit]
Abu Amr is married and the father of five children. He has published several books, the most well-known being Islamic Fundamentalism in the West Bank and Gaza: Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Jihad.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "West Bank: Palestinian Authority Swears in its New Prime Minister". 6 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d Ziad Abu Amr – Jewish Virtual Library
- ^ a b c Ziad Abu Amr – Le Manifeste: Mouvement pour une Paix Juste et durable au Proche-Orient
- ^ Final results for the electoral districts – Central Elections Commission-Palestine
- ^ The PA Ministerial Cabinet List, April 2003. – Jerusalem Media & Communication Centre
- ^ a b Profiles: Palestinian unity government – BBC News, 20 March 2007.
- ^ The PA Ministerial Cabinet List, March 2007. – Jerusalem Media & Communication Centre
External links[edit]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mahmoud al-Zahar |
Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority 18 March 2007 – 17 June 2007 |
Succeeded by Salam Fayyad |
|