Biden Appoints Former Obama Official to Key Role in National Security Council

President Barack Obama greets Alya Dorelien Bitar, the 1-year-old daughter of Maher Bitar, the outgoing National Security Council Director for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, and his wife, Astrid Dorelien, during a family photo in the Oval Office, on Sept. 21, 2015. White House/Pete Souza

President Joe Biden has appointed lawyer Maher Bitar to be the National Security Council’s senior director for intelligence programs.

Bitar has served as general counsel to Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee and as a top legal adviser to its chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) since 2017.