 He obtained a master's and doctorate degree in Comparative Politics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. After working as a teacher in Bahrain, Oman, and Syria, he began teaching Political Science at Birzeit University in Ramallah in 1985.Running as an independent candidate in the 1996 Palestinian general election, he won a seat in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) representing Gaza City.During this period, he was chairman of the PLC's political committee.