When Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas walks into the White House on May 3, a team that includes a 43-year-old Western-trained career diplomat will have done most of the preparations for this important visit.

Husam Zomlot, an assistant to Abbas appointed to head the PLO’s delegation to Washington, moved to the US capital and took up his position April 1. A few months earlier, Zomlot surprised many at the Fatah Congress by getting the sixth most votes in the elections for the Fatah Revolutionary Council.

Ambassador Amal Jadou, another Western-trained career diplomat and assistant to the foreign minister for European affairs, told Al-Monitor that the new generation of Palestinian diplomats are quite different from the previous cadre of PLO representatives in various capitals. “Palestinian diplomacy has seen a lot of change in recent years, with younger and more professionally trained and career-oriented diplomats filling the top positions," Jadou said, noting that the new diplomats are building on what was accomplished by older PLO cadres, "who joined the diplomatic service coming from being either active in Palestinian student councils or part of the Palestinian armed struggle.” 

Before being promoted, Jadou worked in the president’s office. Jadou credits Abbas with choosing her and many of the new corps of diplomats. “I was working with the president and he pushed me forward. He saw how I work, noticed my demeanor and personality and recommended me to the Foreign Ministry.”