Petroleum engineer; former member of the Baath party; early member of the PLO and Fateh; named as member to the PLO Executive Committee in 1969; PLO career spent as head of the political department; played a major role since the mid-1970s developing contacts with the USA (which led to their recognition of the Palestinian right to self-determination) and European countries; gained the recognition of the PLO as sole representative of the Palestinians in many countries which resulted in the opening of PLO offices in European capitals and the granting of diplomatic status for its representatives; today PLO's official Foreign Minister and critic of the Oslo accords.