Hakam Balawi


Hakam Umar As‘ad Balawi is a Palestinian politician and has been a member of the Palestinian National Authority cabinet and the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Early life and education

Balawi was born in the town of Bal'a, near Tulkarm in British Mandate Palestine in 1939. He has diplomas in administration, journalism and education.

Career

Balawi became the deputy head of the central information committee of Fatah from 1968 to 1978. His political career began when he was assigned as the Palestine Liberation Organization's ambassador to Libya from 1973 to 1975. After, serving as ambassador he became a staunch Fatah activist and then served as an ambassador of the PLO to Tunisia from 1983 to 1994.
Yasser Arafat assigned Balawi the cabinet post of Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority in November 2003. His tenure lasted until 24 February 2005 when a new cabinet formed. Badawi is also a member of executive committee of Fatah. Currently he is a member of the Palestinian National Council and the Secretary of the Union of Palestinian Writers and Journalists. During Arafat's presidency of the PNA and his chairmanship of the PLO, Balawi was said to be a "loyalist"

Personal life

Balawi has also engaged in writing several plays and novels. He is married and has four children.