Hussein al-Sheikh (Arabic: حسين الشيخ; born 1960) is a Palestinian politician and businessman who has served as secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization since 26 May 2022.[1] He has been dubbed "spokesman of the occupation" by critics.[2] Al-Sheikh has been viewed as a potential successor to Mahmoud Abbas.[3]
Biography
Hussein al-Sheikh was born in Ramallah in 1960 during a period of the Jordanian annexation of the West Bank.[4]
Political life
al-Sheikh head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority since 2007. He was first elected as a member of the Central Committee of Fatah in 2008.[5]
On 25 June 2022, the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization reaffirmed Hussein al-Sheikh as secretary general and head of the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization.[6]
In 2024, Al-Sheikh has called for the release of Palestinian politician Marwan Barghouti, who is imprisoned for his attacks against Israelis in the second intifada.[7]
In January 2025, it was reported Al-Sheikh was involved in talks of a Saudi-Israeli peace deal brokered by the Trump administration.[8]
References
- ^ "President Abbas names Hussein Al-Sheikh Secretary-General of PLO". The Palestine News Agency. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ Kingsley, Patrick (15 July 2022). "A New Palestinian Leader Rises in the West Bank. He's Very Unpopular". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ Menachem, Yoni Ben (6 September 2023). "Hussein al-Sheikh Aims for Deputy Role under Mahmoud Abbas". Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ "A New Palestinian Leader Rises in the West Bank. He's Very Unpopular". The New York Times. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "The Ramallah 'gentleman' who could become PA president". The Jerusalem Post. 24 January 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "PLO's Executive Committee reaffirms President Abbas as Chairman, al-Sheikh as secretary-general". The Palestine News Agency. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ Koningsveld, Akiva Van (18 March 2024). "PA official asks for help getting terrorists out of Israeli jails". JNS.org. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ Ravid, Barak (28 January 2025). "Scoop: White House envoy met senior Palestinian official in Saudi Arabia". Axios. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
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