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Palestinian Union Boss Emerges as Power Broker

Union head Bassam Zakarneh, who has recently steered several mass strikes, is one of the most powerful men in the West Bank, Daoud Kuttab writes.
Palestinian government employees hold pieces of red paper during a protest against the Labour Minister Ahmad Majdalani in front of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's office in West Bank city of Ramallah November 29, 2011. Palestinian Economy Minister Hassan Abu Libdeh has been charged with financial wrongdoing, court sources said on Tuesday, piling pressure on Fayyad's beleaguered government. Majdalani, also faced pressure to resign on Tuesday because of unguarded comments broadcast on local radio, when he brand

He is probably not very well known outside the territories of the state of Palestine, but if you ask almost any Palestinian, they would most likely know who Bassam Zakarneh is.

Technically, he is a member of the Revolutionary Council in Fatah. But ask any Fatah activist and they will say that he is much more powerful than most members of the central committee — the highest body in this liberation movement.

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