Palestine's first female governor recounts her struggle

When it came to explaining the secret behind her success, Laila Ghannam gave credit to her family — in particular, her father. A supportive family is necessary for the success of women, she told Al-Monitor. "In our family, my father supported our decisions, and he always used to tell us, 'Anyone who does not make mistakes will not learn.'"

The journey of this Palestinian woman to become Palestine's first female governor in January 2010 did not come easily. “I entered university five years after I finished high school because my brothers were arrested by the Israeli occupation,” she said. “Once things calmed down in the family, and one of my brothers came out of prison, I went to university. I was fighting against time, and I managed to get a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree in 8½ years — a record time.” She studied at Minia University in Egypt and received her doctorate in psychology and counseling.

Before university, Ghannam volunteered for various public organizations, as well as Fatah, the leading Palestinian movement. She said that she never applied for or attempted to become governor — it is not the kind of job one applies for. “Political work requires a given effort and mindset. I belonged to the nation and its institutions and this helped me in the sense that the president chose me for the important position of governor,” she said.

As for her responsibility toward Palestinian women, Ghannam takes a holistic approach. “I have a responsibility when talking about every Palestinian and when carrying the concerns and feelings of the children, the youth, the women and the elderly.” The responsibility for women, though, is double. She said, “I am the first woman to serve as governor; it is my duty to fully represent the Palestinian woman.”