On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, Dr. Estephan Salameh, a member of the Board of Trustees at Bethlehem University, was officially sworn in to assume his duties as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation in the Palestinian government.
Dr. Salameh is considered one of the leading Palestinian experts in the field of planning and public policy. He has been serving on the Board of Trustees of Bethlehem University since 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in planning and public policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and brings over 17 years of professional experience in the Palestinian public sector.
Throughout his career, Dr. Salameh has served as an advisor to several ministers and prime ministers and has led numerous strategic planning and international cooperation initiatives, including managing relationships with over 50 countries and international organizations. He also headed the national team responsible for drafting national development plans and sectoral strategies, as well as recovery and reconstruction plans for the Gaza Strip.
Academically, Dr. Salameh taught at Birzeit University for over ten years and currently serves on the boards of trustees of several academic and charitable institutions.
Bethlehem University extends its congratulations to Dr. Estephan Salameh on his appointment and wishes him continued success in serving the Palestinian people and homeland.