A Palestinian businessman is making a long-shot bid to lead a new governing body of the Gaza Strip, putting up an estimated $300,000 for lobbying services to influence Washington and the Middle East.
The public relations push from Samir Hlaileh, the former CEO of an investment and development company, comes as President Trump and Arab leaders shop plans for the future of the Gaza Strip as part of an end to the war between Israel and Hamas.
In a short phone call, Hlaileh said he believes he has the integrity, reputation, track record and independence to be a uniting force for Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
“I worked in government twice, I worked of course in the private sector for a long period of time and in NGOs,” he said.
“I am generally a public figure and I have a good chance because my integrity and my reputation and track record, either in government or being independent, I thought that can guarantee for me an acceptance by all the parties,” he added.
Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that the signing of a minerals deal...
Israel's war in Gaza grinds on, but opposition is growing.In recent weeks, thousands of Israeli reservists...
