Samir Huleileh was cabinet secretary in the Palestinian Authority in 2005-2006 and undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in 1994-97. He was on the negotiations teams for the Paris Protocol in 1993 and the multilateral talks with Israel and others in 1991-92. He is managing director of the Palestine office of Portland Trust, a private British foundation committed to encouraging peace and stability between Palestinians and Israelis through economic development.
Building a Palestinian productive economy that meets technical and financial
requirements is the only way to protect Palestine from external pressures and shocks
that arise from the conflict.
The Palestinian Authority needs to take on a greater role of empowering its people,
working with the private sector and civil society to build the components needed for
economic resilience, continued resistance against the occupation and perseverance in
the national struggle.