Salam Fayyad, Palestine Authority Prime Minister, describes Israel’s central bank governor Stanley Fischer as a “superb human being” who would make a "great managing director" for the IMF. Fischer is an underdog to overtake France’s Finance Minister Christine Lagarde for the job. What an upset it would be though if at least in part spurred from the most unexpected of sources. What would it imply for further Israeli-Palestinian relations? Why don’t we see this type of relation reflected at the negotiating table? The Palestinian Authority does not participate in the selection process, but Fayyad (2 PHOTOS with UNSG Ban Ki-moon) said if he had a vote, he would cast it for Fischer. Fayyad is a U.S.-trained economist and former senior IMF official and has known Fischer for two decades, since the two worked together at the IMF. Stanley Fischer has headed the Bank of Israel since 2005. He announced his candidacy for the top IMF job unexpectedly in mid June. Fischer was born in the former Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), and is a US as well as Israeli citizen. He has served as world Bank Chief Economist and from 1994-2001 he was the IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director (where I met him). He has been MIT professor and financial professional. Fischer has earned exceptional reviews for his leadership of Israel’s Central Bank and in 2009 and 2010 received an "A" rating on the Central Banker Report Card published by Global Finance magazine. On paper, he may very well be the most well rounded and qualified candidate, and now receiving the endorsement of the Palestinian PM may be just enough to deny what appeared like the inevitable victory of Lagarde, France and Europe in extending “the tradition” of a European IMF Chief.(Bank of Mexico Governor Augustin Carstens is currently 3rd candidate and also long-shot to Lagarde) I can hear it now: “A Jewish conspiracy”! However, before you speak, you might want to take a look at this man’s credentials and his efforts with Israelis and Palestinians. Maybe it is just that this type of admiration and respect between Fischer and Fayyad appeals to many of us as a possible vision of the future compared to the stuck in rut frame of mind rhetoric of mutual mistrust and despise. But getting back to the selection of IMF Chief, it does get interesting, really interesting now. Related Reports at – diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/international-financial-crisis ---LAST REPORT - : diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/imf-selection-process-lengthy-but-choice-by-ambassador-mo/28245 ---“John Lipsky Speaks of IMF Selection Process” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/imf-selecting-new-chief-after-dsk/27013 ---“A French Woman or Asian Man - US Big Loser?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/a-french-woman-or-an-asian-man-us-big-loser-by-ambassador/28143 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Face Book – Become Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter - DiplomaticallyX