Could Amal Jadou become Palestine’s first female FM?
Following the resignation of the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and his entire government on February 26, there is a somewhat likely chance of a woman being appointed Foreign Minister, an unprecedented move in the country’s political scene.
A Palestinian Authority (PA) source noted on February 27 that Amal Jadou, 51, is in the running to become the state’s representative abroad, The National reported.
Although a female Palestinian Foreign Minister is unheard of, numerous women have held ministerial jobs in previous governments.
The stepping down of Shtayyeh will trigger a cabinet reshuffle and talks over potential reforms to the Authority have since been high on the agenda.
Notably, President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken have called for the need for a PA revamp recently.
A PA source said, “Amal Jadou is among the names being discussed for the Foreign Minister position”.
READ: Palestinian PM steps down over post-conflict Gaza plans
Ms. Jadou, who until very recently was the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (commonly referred to as the Deputy Foreign Minister), would replace political veteran Riyad Al-Maliki who has been the minister for foreign affairs since July 2007.
The source also added that there was “great pressure exerted by the Americans before the resignation of the Shtayyeh government, to prepare the Palestinian political arena for the so-called next day after the war in Gaza”.
Jadou did her further education at the Boston-based Tuffs University and has worked in the Palestinian Foreign Ministry for nearly 12 years.
With regards to a replacement for Mr Shtayyeh, it is believed that Deput Prime Minister and economist Mohammed Mustafa is the favourite.
Mustafa, who also did his university education in the US (The George Washington University), is a former World Bank official and is the Chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund.
The National
