Salam Fayyad

Who is Salam Fayyad?

Salam Fayyad is a Palestinian politician and former Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority and briefly the first Prime Minister of the State of Palestine. His first appointment, on 15 June 2007, which was justified by President Mahmoud Abbas on the basis of "national emergency", has not been confirmed by the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Palestinian Authority's parliament. He was reappointed on 19 May 2009. Fayyad has also been the finance minister from 17 March 2007 and previously held the post from June 2002 to November 2006. Fayyad is an internationally respected economist and politician.

On 13 April 2013, Fayyad resigned as Prime Minister. Some attribute the resignation to increased political pressure within the Palestinian society and the preceding 2012 Palestinian protests. His successor, Rami Hamdullah, was named on 2 June 2013.