RAMALLAH, Monday, January 27, 2020 (WAFA) – Former Minister of Finance Mohammad Zuhdi Nashashibi has died today. He was 95.

President Mahmoud Abbas sent his condolences to the Nashashibi family, saying he has dedicated his life to defend Palestinian rights and the independence of the national decision.

Nashashibi was born in Jerusalem in 1925 and became member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1960 and later headed its National Fund, the finance department.

He returned to his homeland in June 1994 following the signing of the Oslo Accords between the PLO and Israel and was the first member of the PLO Executive Committee to apply his right of return to the homeland after living in exile as a Palestinian refugee who was forced out of his home in 1948.

Nashashibi served as finance minister in the newly formed Palestinian Authority from 1994 until 2000.

M.K.