Amr Moussa, born October 3, 1936, is an Egyptian politician and diplomat that served as Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 2001.  After that, Moussa was appointed as the secretary general of the Arab League from 2001 until 2011, and now he is a candidate in the 2012 presidential elections. 

After finishing his degree in law from the University of Cairo in 1957, Moussa began his diplomatic career.  After working in various diplomatic posts, including ambassador to India, director of the Department of International Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and permanent representative of Egypt to the United Nations, he was appointed foreign minister in 1991.

Moussa’s immense popularity stems from his outright vocal criticism of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians during his tenure as Egypt’s foreign minister.  The Palestinian cause has been at the top of his agenda, and he supports Israel's integration into the Arab world, but criticizes US foreign policy in the region as one-sided. In February 2010 Moussa gave a speech in which he criticized the U.S. government's double standard supporting Israel's nuclear weapons policy but not allowing Iran to pursue nuclear energy. In addition, he also criticized the government for not recognizing the results of the 2006 Palestinian elections that brought Hamas into power. 

In 2001, Moussa’s move to the Arab League prompted speculation that President Hosni Mubarak ousted him because he viewed him as a political rival.   This speculation might have proven to be true because since Mubarak’s resignation on February 11 and Moussa’s announcement of running in the presidential election, he has held a sizable lead over other potential candidates. 

Moussa’s platform in the presidential elections called for equality and integration of all Egyptians regardless of religion or location, seeks to reform but not dismantle the State Security agency, advocates the empowerment of women and youth to play a more influential role in Egypt, and calls for amending the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, and opening Egypt’s border with Gaza.