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Ahmed (Abu Ala) Qureia

ahmed qureia

Ahmed (Abu Ala) Qureia

Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority 2003-2006

(Born 1937)

Ahmed Qureia, known as Abu Ala, was born in 1937 to a wealthy family in Abu Dis, a village near Jerusalem. A banker by trade, he joined Fatah in 1968 and quickly moved up the ladder, eventually becoming director general of the PLO's economic department. When the PLO left Lebanon, Abu Ala went to Tunis with Arafat, and gradually gained more influence until he was elected a member of the Fatah central committee in 1989. That marked the start of his political career, and he began to play an increasing role in peace negotiations. He was one of the main Palestinian negotiators in the secret talks with the Israelis in 1993, which evolved into the Oslo Accords, and since then has engaged in numerous negotiations with the Israelis. This process led to Abu Ala's return from exile in Tunis, together with the PLO leadership, in 1994.

In 1996, he was appointed as the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council. In 2002, Abu Ala launched the Peres-Abu Ala peace plan and in 2003 he held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. In September 2003, Abu Ala was offered the position of Palestinian Prime Minister, replacing Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Following disagreements with Yasser Arafat, Abu Ala refused the position as permanent Prime Minister, and instead became PM of an ‘Emergency Cabinet'. The ‘Emergency Cabinet' ended its term on 4 November and was replaced with a ‘Caretaker Cabinet', also headed by Abu Ala. On 12 November 2003, following Abu Ala's decision to remain as Palestinian Prime Minister, his cabinet, comprising of 26 ministers, was passed by a vote of confidence in the Palestinian Legislative Council. On 17 July 2004, he submitted his resignation amid growing chaos in the Gaza Strip. Arafat refused to accept his resignation, and later that same month, Queria retracted his resignation.

Following Arafat's death in November 2004, Prime Minister Qureia and his predecessor, Mahmoud Abbas, were selected to temporarily assume Mr. Arafat's duties. Mr. Qureia took the reins of the Palestinian Authority, until Abbas won the January 2005 elections for PA Chairman. Mr Queria continues to serve as the prime minister.

After the victory of Hamas in the January 2005 elections, Abu Ala no longer serves as the Palestinian prime minister.

(Sources: BBC Online, Palestinian National Authority )

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