(1937- ) Also known as Abu Ala'. A
Palestinian political figure. A long-time member of
Fatah and numerous
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) bodies, Qurei formerly served as the speaker of the
Palestinian Legislative Council from 1996-2003 and was one of the leading Palestinian negotiators in the secret talks that led to the signing of the
Oslo Accords in 1993. Qurei has also held various positions in the
Palestinian Authority, including Minister of Economy and Trade, Minister of Industry and Prime Minister from September 2003-February 2006. As of 2015, serves as the head of the PLO Department for
Jerusalem Affairs and is a member of the PLO Executive Committee. Controversy erupted in 2004 when it was alleged that Qurei's family's cement company profited from the building of the
Separation Barrier, an accusation Qurei denied. See "
Biography - Ahmed Qurei," MidEast Web. See also "
Palestinian cement sold to Israel for barrier, probe finds," Charles Radin, Boston Globe, July 28, 2004; and "
Qurei calls for reconsidering one-state solution," Khaled Abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post, March 17, 2012.