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Biden Appoints Palestinian to Lead Intelligence Service in US National Security


Mon 25 Jan 2021 | 11:48 PM
Ahmed Moamar

The administration of US President Joe Biden has announced the appointment of Maher Al-Bitar as director of the intelligence service at the US National Security Council in the new administration.

Al-Bitar, an American of Palestinian origin, previously worked in the administration of former US President Barack Obama, during Biden's tenure as US Vice President. However, Al-Bitar did not reach the leadership of one of the organs of the US National Security Council, and one of the most important posts in the US security apparatus.

Al-Bitar served as a general counsel to the Democrats in the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee.

He previously led the prosecution in the questioning of former President Donald Trump and was also a senior legal advisor to the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff.

He returns to the National Security Council again, after he had previously worked in it as Director of Israeli and Palestinian Affairs during the administration of Barack Obama; he also held the position of former UN Deputy Ambassador Samantha Power during her tenure at the National Security Council.

He is not the only face of Palestinian origin in the Biden administration, as Rima Dudin, who is of Palestinian origin, has been appointed as deputy director of the White House legislative affairs office in the new US administration.

Biden began to assume the reins of affairs in the United States on January 20, after he was sworn in, during his inauguration ceremony, at the Capitol headquarters of the US Congress, thus becoming the forty-sixth US president in the history of the United States.

Biden succeeded former US President Donald Trump, who managed to defeat him in the presidential elections, which took place on November 3.

Biden won 306 votes in the Electoral College out of 538 votes, compared to 232 votes for his rival Trump, to win the presidential election.