Issa Ahmed Abdel Hamid Qaraqe is the Head of the Palestinian National Library. A contemporary Palestinian writer-turned-politician, Issa Qarage attended UNRWA schools in Bethlehem Governorate. He holds a bachelor's degree from Bethlehem University, and an MA in contemporary Arab studies from Birzeit University. Having been arrested dozens of times by the Israeli occupation army, Qarage held many positions such as President of the Palestinian Prisoners Club in 1993 – 2006, a Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006, and he is currently the head of the Palestinian National Library.