The following Palestinian Leaders have been selected because of their standing within the Palestinian Authority (PA), the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and/or Hamas. The PLO was recognized as "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian People" by the Arab League in 1974, and it has maintained this status with one exception. In 1993, the Oslo Declaration of Principles established the PA, which remains the executive and legislative body within the autonomous areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Hamas became the majority party by winning 56% of the Palestinian Legislative Council's seats in the January 2006 Palestinian legislative election. The PLO and the PA (of which Hamas is the majority party), are currently the only organizational bodies possessing the authority to legitimately represent the Palestinian People domestically and internationally.
Below, we describe each individual's "Positions" within the various organizations (such as President, Prime Minister, Member, etc.), as well as a list describing their key "Involvement" in major events of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Jerusalem District, 1996-present
- Minister of Higher Education and Research, Palestinian Authority (PA), 1996-1998
- Offical Spokesperson of the Palestinian Delegation to the Middle East Peace Process, 1991-1993
- Member of the Intifada Political Committee, serving as well on its Diplomatic Committee, 1988-1993
- Organizer and Leader of the Tanzim, Fatah's militant wing, and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades during the 2000 Al Aqsa Intifada
- Elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Independent, 1995, Fatah, 2006-
- Secretary General of Fatah in the West Bank, 1994
- Minister of Information, Palestinian Authority (PA), 2007-
- Elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Independent Palestine (Third Way), 2006-
- Candidate in the election for PA President (after the death of Arafat), 2005
- Chief of the Palestinian National Security Force, March, 2007-
- Palestinian Minister for Civil Affairs, Palestinian Authority (PA), 2006-
- Re-elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council as Representative for Khan Younis Refugee Camp, 2006-
- Minister of Security Affairs, PA, 2003
- Spiritual Head of Hamas upon the assassination of Sheikh Yassin, Mar. 22, 2004 - Apr. 17, 2004
- Named Political and Military Head of Hamas upon the assassinations of Salah Shehadeh and Ibrahim Macadma, 2002 - Apr.17, 2004
- Founding member of Hamas, 1987
- Joined the Muslim Brotherhood, 1976
- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information, Palestinian Authority (PA)
- Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, PA
- Acting Prime Minister of the PA, 15 Dec. 2005 - 24 Dec. 2005 - Minister of Foreign Affairs, PA, 2003-
- Member, National Security Council, PA, 2003
- Member, Palestinian Legislative Council, Khan Younis, 1996
- Member, Fatah Central Committee, 1987
- Member of the PLO since 1969
- Member, Palestinian Negotiations Committee, 1995
