A Palestinian chemical engineer from eastern Jerusalem has just been awarded the position of deputy chief scientist at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Space, Haaretz reported. 

Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed, 42 and a resident of Sur Bahir, will become, upon his appointment, the eastern Jerusalem Palestinian with the most senior position in any of Israel’s ministries. 

Abu Hamed studied chemical engineering in Ankara, Turkey, where his doctoral thesis discussed the biological breakdown of petroleum effluents. 

He then became a post-doctoral fellow at the Weizmann Institute in Haifa and the University of Minnesota, where he studied renewable energy. 

Before joining the Ministry of Science two years ago, Abu Hamed managed the Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and served as the head of the department for renewable energy at the Dead Sea and Arava Science Center. 

He is also the winner of the Dan David Prize, a prestigious award that recognizes achievements that have a scientific, technological, or cultural influence on the world. 

“Dr. Abu Hamed brings with him a record of proven scientific achievements, tying in practical work in the field with writing research articles. His familiarity with the ministry as well as current scientific trends will enable him to do an outstanding job,” Profesor Nurit Yirmiya, the ministry’s chief scientist, said.