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The has formally appointed a new interior minister for the first time in almost a decade, Major General Ziad Hab Al-Reeh selected for the post.Ìý

The longtime activist was sworn in SaturdayÌýtogether with the new Minister of Awqaf and Religious AffairsÌýSheikh Hatem al-BakriÌýat the Presidential Headquarters in .Ìý

The spy chief's new role - which has been overseen by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ìýwhile the post was empty -Ìýwill involveÌýoverseeing Palestinian security forces at a time of intense scrutiny after the death of activist and subsequent crackdowns on protests.Ìý

"The swearing-in ceremony…was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, Adviser to the President for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi Al-Khalidi, and Adviser to the President for Legal Affairs Ali Muhanna," reported the Palestinian Authority's news agency Wafa.Ìý

He will be the first ±Ê²¹±ô±ð²õ³Ù¾±²Ô¾±²¹²ÔÌý´¡³Ü³Ù³ó´Ç°ù¾±³Ù²â interior minister in seven years.Ìý

Born in Jenin, a city in the northern occupied , Al-Reeh has been a Palestinian activist for years, dating back to before the f

Al-Reeh headedÌýthe Palestinian Authority's internal intelligence agency,ÌýPreventive Security, from 2006 just before Fatah and Hamas split.

He is also a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, which sets policies through various .Ìý

Fatah is the dominant faction in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, and has dominated Palestinian politics in the West Bank since the Oslo Accords.

It is currently led by , whose presidency expired in 2009.ÌýÌý