US President Joe Biden has appointed Palestinian American Maher Bitar to the role of senior director for intelligence programs at the National Security Council, according to a report in the political journalism site Politico.
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Maher served in the National Security Council under former US President Barack Obama, as director for Israeli and Palestinian affairs.
He earned his master's degree at Oxford University, writing his dissertation on forced migration at the school's Refugee Studies Center. He has worked with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem.
Since 2017, Maher served as general counsel for Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee. As Rep. Adam Schiff's top legal adviser, he was deeply involved in the first impeachment of then-US President Donald Trump.
As senior director for intelligence programs, Bitar will receive sensitive information from intelligence agencies and coordinate covert operations between the intelligence communities and the White House. The office of the senior director also houses the server that stores the most sensitive classified information.
Speaking to Politico, Schiff called Bitar "a superb choice," saying, "I can't think of anyone more suited to the role."
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