Born in Bir Saba’ in 1944; finished secondary school in Gaza; studied Engineering in Egypt; joined Fateh in 1964; became President of the Palestinian General Student Council, Asyut Branch, Egypt, in 1965 and in Alexandria in 1968; Executive Committee member of the Palestinian Student General Council in 1969; PNC member since 1969; President of the Palestinian Student General Council from 1974-81; member of the PLO Central Council from 1974-81; member of Fateh, Egypt branch since 1977; member of the Fateh Revolutionary Council since 1974; Vice-Secretary of the Fateh Revolutionary Council; served as PLO Representative in Yugoslavia from 1982-85; worked as assistant to the head of the PLO Political Dept.; was appointed Governor of Khan Younis, Gaza, from 1996-2001; Governor of North Gaza since 2001; deputy treasurer of the Fateh Revolutionary Council; became PA Minister of Youth and Sport in the cabinet of Ahmed Qrei’a in Feb. 2005 (until after the Jan. 2006 PLC elections).