Palestinian family ‘happy’ as daughter on Biden's team

By Qais Abu Samra

HEBRON, Palestine (AA) - A Palestinian family expressed excitement at the appointment of their daughter as part of the new White House staff after Joe Biden’s election victory.

US President-elect Joe Biden announced Monday that Palestinian-American Reema Dodin will serve as Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.

Her appointment comes as Biden continues to shape his team before officially assuming office in January.

She traces her origins to Dura, in Hebron Governorate in the south of the occupied West Bank.

Her parents immigrated to the US in the 1960s.

Dodin's uncle Ahmed Dodin, a resident of Dura, told Anadolu Agency that the family is “happy with this appointment” and called it “a success for every Palestinian.”

Dodin was born in the US but Ahmed said she frequently visits Dura and her last visit was four years ago.

“She is the daughter of Palestine and her origins are Palestinian,” said Ahmed, who added that he hopes the “post will be good for her and her mother country.”

Dodin graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

She previously served as deputy chief of staff to the state of Illinois Democratic Senator Richard Durbin. She also volunteered on the Biden-Harris Transition Team, leading legislative engagement for the confirmations process.

*Ibrahim Mukhtar contributed to this report from Ankara