Hakam Balawi

Hakam Umar As‘ad Balawi (Arabic: حكم بلعاوي; 1938 – 28 November 2020) was a Palestinian politician and a member of the Palestinian National Authority cabinet and the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Hakam Balawi
Born	Hakam Umar As‘ad Balawi 1938 (1938) Bal'a, British Mandate of Palestine
Died	28 November 2020 (aged 82)
Nationality	Palestinian
Occupation(s)	Interior Minister of the PA (November 2003–February 2005) Ambassador of the PLO to Tunisia (1983–1994) Ambassador of the PLO to Libya (1973–1975)

Early life and education

Balawi was born in the town of Bal'a, near Tulkarm in British Mandate Palestine in 1938.^[1] He had diplomas in administration, journalism and education.^[2]

Career

Balawi was the deputy head of the central information committee of Fatah from 1968 to 1978. His political career began when he was assigned as the Palestine Liberation Organization's ambassador to Libya from 1973 to 1975,^[2] after which he became a staunch Fatah activist and then was the PLO's ambassador to Tunisia from 1983 to 1994.^[1]

Yasser Arafat assigned Balawi the cabinet post of Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority in November 2003.^[3] His tenure lasted until 24 February 2005 when a new cabinet formed.^[4] Balawi was also a member of executive committee of Fatah,^[5] a member of the Palestinian National Council and the Secretary of the Union of Palestinian Writers and Journalists.^[1] During Arafat's presidency of the PNA and his chairmanship of the PLO, Balawi was said to be a "loyalist".^[6]

Personal life

Balawi wrote several plays and novels. He was married and had four children.^[1]

Balawi died on 28 November 2020, at the age of 82.^[7]

See also

• Salah Zawawi