Exclusive: Anticipated New Appointments in the Palestinian Diplomatic Corps

Exclusive SadaNews - Reliable sources confirmed to "SadaNews" that the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has nominated several ambassadors for appointments in a number of Arab and foreign countries, pointing out that the new list will be released gradually until the beginning of next year.

The same sources clarified that these anticipated appointments come in light of vacancies in several Palestinian embassies and some ambassadors reaching retirement age.

They indicated that the nominated names may not be final, as their official appointment requires the approval of the host country and ratification by President Mahmoud Abbas.

According to reliable sources, Ambassador Ahmad Al-Ruweidi will be transferred from Iraq to the Sultanate of Oman, noting that the former Palestinian ambassador in Lebanon, Ashraf Dabbour, was previously nominated for this position, but the Sultanate rejected his nomination.

Also, Muath Al-Atrash will be appointed as the Consul General in Istanbul, Ihab Al-Qishawi as the Consul General in Jeddah, Mohammed Shakour as the Consul General in Alexandria, and Dawas Dawas as the Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and Jerusalem Affairs in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (receiving his salary from the organization itself), currently holding the position of Secretary General of the Palestinian Cabinet, and Jawad Awad as the Ambassador of Palestine to China, and Samar Awad Allah in Iraq, who is from outside the diplomatic corps, and Anwar Al-Agha in Bulgaria, and Wael Al-Tarikhy in Tanzania.

As well, Mohannad Al-Hamouri will be appointed ambassador to Nigeria, Sharif Malouh in Angola, Thaer Abu Bakr in Morocco (not final), Nasri Abu Jish in Turkey, Jihad Al-Qudra in Malaysia, Kamil Al-Shakheera in Belarus, Bashir Abu Hatab in Mauritania, and Ammar Zorba in Cuba (not at the ambassador level), in addition to Faed Mustafa as Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and Arab Occupied Territories at the Arab League, succeeding Saeed Abu Ali.

Reliable sources told "SadaNews" that ambassadors have not yet been nominated for Canada, Australia, and Egypt, noting that Diab Al-Louh remains in his position as Ambassador of Palestine in Cairo, but a new ambassador will be appointed to succeed him due to his nearing retirement age, adding that the Palestinian ambassador to be appointed in Cairo will likely be from the Gaza Strip.

They also confirmed that there are other names to be nominated for ambassadorial positions, such as Saadi Al-Tamizi and Sylvia Abu Luban, but the countries for their appointments have not yet been determined.

Additionally, work is underway to nominate a representative for Palestine to the UNESCO affiliated with the United Nations.

It was noted that there will also be transfers and assignments of diplomats in Palestinian embassies around the world.

Last April, Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh assumed the presidency of the embassies committee, after a presidential decree to that effect.

The embassies committee is responsible for the affairs of Palestinian diplomatic missions around the world, which number about 112 embassies, missions, and consulates, as well as appointing the ambassadors, their deputies, consuls, and advisers, in addition to rotating ambassadors between countries and managing the affairs of embassies from their opening to their closure.