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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #2576/01 1721541
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211541Z JUN 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2942
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002576 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2016 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: MUNIB AL-MASRI TOUTED AS POTENTIAL PM IN NATIONAL 
UNITY GOVERNMENT 
 
 
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 1.    (C) Summary.  Amid speculation that Fatah and Hamas are 
nearing consensus on the prisoners' initiative, and possibly 
agreement on a National Unity Government (NUG), Fatah and 
private sector sources have suggested that prominent Nablus 
businessman, Munib al-Masri, is a potential candidate for the 
post of Prime Minister.  Al-Masri is actively campaigning for 
the job.  This cable offers biographic background on 
al-Masri.  End summary. 
 
A Self-Made Man 
--------------- 
 
 2.    (SBU) Born in Nablus in 1934, al-Masri received his 
early education in Nablus at al-Najah High School, while 
pursuing his higher education in Texas.  He graduated with 
honors in 1955 from the University of Texas with a degree in 
Petroleum Geology and in 1956 he received a Masters degree in 
Geology and Government from Sul Ross State University in 
Texas. 
 
 3.    (SBU) He went on to join Phillips Petroleum as a 
geologist.  At the same time, Phillips Petroleum allowed him 
to establish the Engineering and Geological Services Office, 
the precursor to the EDGO Group, of which he is still the 
chairman and CEO.  EDGO has developed into an international 
conglomerate with operations in 20 countries involved in 
contracting and joint ventures and as a supplier/distributor 
of engineering equipment and materials.  In one interview, 
al-Masri described the company as specializing in the oil, 
gas, power, and water industries. 
 
 4.    (C) After his initial stint with Phillips Petroleum in 
Jordan, he went on to manage their office in Algeria during 
Algeria's struggle for independence.  He then took a leave of 
absence to join the Jordanian government as a special 
consultant supervising the execution of major public projects 
in Jordan.  Afterwards, he returned to Phillips to become the 
company head in Beirut, overseeing operations in 16 
countries.  At the same time, the EDGO Group pursued 
lucrative projects in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab 
Emirates.  Other sources close to al-Masri, have said that 
there were also a number of EDGO projects in Libya. 
 
Enters Politics 
--------------- 
 
 5.    (SBU) In 1970, he joined the Jordanian government of 
Prime Minister Wasfi al-Tal as Minister of Public Works. 
During this period, he mediated between King Hussein and PLO 
Chairman Yasir Arafat.  He returned to Nablus in 1994 after 
the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of 
Principles and founded the Palestinian Development and 
Investment Company (PADICO) in Nablus, the largest company in 
the West Bank and Gaza.  He is still the company's Chairman. 
A political moderate, al-Masri was considered for the 
 
position of PA Prime Minister in March 2003 -- a post that 
was eventually awarded to Mahmud Abbas.  A political 
independent, al-Masri also serves in the structures of the 
PLO as a member of the PLO Central Council. 
 
Significant Contributor 
to Palestinian Charities 
------------------------ 
 
 6.    (SBU) Al-Masri is considered one of the world's 
wealthiest Palestinians and is well-known for his involvement 
in several economic and philanthropic Palestinian 
organizations.  Al-Masri was instrumental in the 
establishment of the al-Quds University Investment Fund and 
is a member of the Board of Trustees of al-Quds University. 
In addition, he has served as Chairman of the Board of 
Trustees of the Sakakini Cultural Center in Ramallah. 
Al-Masri is also affiliated with the Engineering and 
Technology College at al-Najah University in Nablus and is a 
member of the Board of Trustees of the American University in 
Beirut.  During the second Intifadah, al-Masri created the 
Nablus Rehabilitation Committee, which aims to rebuild homes 
destroyed by the IDF.  He is also a member of the World 
Bank's Council of Advisors for the Middle East and North 
Africa region. 
 
Personal Information 
-------------------- 
 
 7.    (C) He has an American (other reports say British) 
spouse and six children.  Though he built an Italian-style 
villa situated on Mount Gerizim overlooking Nablus (costing 
 
an estimated USD 3-4 million), he is reportedly known for his 
"stinginess."  According to one February 2005 press report, 
al-Masri has undergone heart surgery, and has six stents in 
his heart. 
 
WALLES