Abdel-Razak al-Yehiyeh

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Abdul-Razzaq Al-Yahya, was appointed the Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, on June 15, 2007. He was formerly the Interior Minister for the Palestinian National Authority in 2002, and is a military and security strategist experienced in negotiations.

Lieutenant General Abdul Razzaq Al-Yahya (Abu Anas) was born in Tantura, near Haifa (Palestine) on March 15, 1929. Trained as a military strategist; served as chief operations officer and then deputy chief-of-staff of the PLA brigade in Syria pre-67. In August 1968, Al-Yahya led attempt to make PLA Syria brigades more independent of Syrian control, and was made PLA chief-of-staff by PLO Executive Committee. But with Syria opposed, he resigned to become military advisor to PLO Executive Committee from 1969 and chief-of-staff of Palestinian Armed Struggle Command PASC in February 1969. Reappointed to PLA as commander-in-chief by PLO Executive Committee in June 1969; and with Yasser Arafat taking this role in September 1970, became chief-of-staff of all Palestinian forces. Due to Syrian pressure, was replaced in 1971. Became director of PLO's political department (1971-1976); member of PLO-Executive Committee (1984-91). Headed security committees in talks with Israel from 1993, including final status talks; also headed negotiations on Hebron security arrangements and Safe Passage. Appointed as Interior Minister on June 2002, charged with overhauling Palestinian security forces. Was a member of the 3-man delegation to Washington in August 2000. Involved in security talks with Israel, heads a centralized security apparatus for the Palestinian Authority instead of Mohammed Dahlan (tied to U.S. officials and a back channel with Israel). Al-Yahya left the PA cabinet in late 2002 after Yasser Arafat prevented him from making any significant reforms. He published his book ( Abdul Razzaq Al-Yahya - Between militarsim and politics ) in 2006, and he is now working on publishing a new book about peace negotiations between the Palestinian National Authority PNA and Israel.