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Sulayman
al-Najjab (Sulayman Rashid al-Najjab) [Abu Firas]:
Former leader of
the JCP. b.1934(?), from Jibya village; joined JCP soon after its
creation. Arrested soon after Apr 57 dismissal of Nabulsi's government
and imprisoned for eight years in al-Jafar camp. Was active in creating
the PNF and arrested in 1974. After nine months in administrative
detention, was deported from West Bank in Feb 75. As deputy S-G, was 1st
JCP leader to be appointed to the PLO-EC, in Apr 87 and had key role in
bringing about the reconciliation of fida'i factions. Retained PLO-EC
position until his death (from cancer, in the US) in Aug 01; buried in
Ramallah.
Muhammad
Yusif al-Najjar [Abu Yusif]:
Founding member of Fatah. b.1929,
refugee from Yibna (al-Majdal); grew up in Rafah camp, Gaza. A member of
the Muslim Brotherhood before 1948, he was arrested by Egypt in early 54
for participation in demos for a Palestinian army; and imprisoned for
two years from Mar 55 for protesting Egyptian resettlement of Palestinian
refugees in N Sinai. With Ikhwan’s decline in Egypt and its refusal
to support a separate armed organisation, left to become a founder of
Fatah. Worked as a teacher, and was active in setting up early Fatah
groups in Saudi and Qatar; member of Fatah-CC from creation until his
death. Became head of Fatah’s new security apparatus (in Sept71),
and coordinated al-‘Asifa; also thought to have a leading role in
Black Sept Org. Member of first fida’i PLO-EC from Jul 68, and became
head of Pol Department in Jan 73. Also, as chair of committee
coordinating Palestinian affairs in Lebanon, brokered relations with
Lebanese government after Cairo agreement. Killed together with his wife
in the Israeli raid on Beirut, 10 Apr 73.
Muhammad
Zuhdi Nashashibi:
PA Finance Minister. A former Palestinian Ba‘th
leader in Syria after 1960, pro-Nasir in opposition to anti-Nasir stance
of Syrian Ba‘th. Long term PLO-EC member, heading the Economics
department; is chair of PNF. Also chairman of the Board of Trustees of
al-Quds University; and a member of the PA's High Council for Refugee
Camps.
Hanna
Nasir:
President of BZU. b.1936, Jaffa. Studied at AUB and
received PhD in nuclear physics from Purdue Uni, US. Founder of BZU,
acting as its president until his deportation in Nov 74 for tolerating
the demonstrations that accompanied ‘Arafat's speech at UNGA. In
exile, was based in Amman, serving on PLO-EC from 1981-84, with role as
head of PNFund from Feb 83; later had responsibility for Higher Education
on PLO committees. Returned to West Bank in May 93, resuming position at
BZU. Remains chair of PNC education committee and thus on PLO-CC. Is
cousin of Kamal Nasir.
Kamal
Nasir (Kamal Butros Nasir):
Palestinian poet and PLO leader. b.
Gaza, 1925, tho family is from Bir Zayt. Educated at AUB, worked as a
teacher whilst studying law in Jerusalem. After 1948 worked as a
journalist: produced al-Ba‘th newspaper from Ramallah, then set
up al-Jil al-Jadid, a literary periodical. Elected as Ba‘th
member for Ramallah district in 1956 elections, but expelled from
Parliament during the subsequent martial law period. Expelled from West
Bank by Israel in 1967; became editor of PLO newspaper, Filastin
al-Thawra, and member of PLO-EC from Feb 69 where served as
official spokesman and the head of National Guidance, exc for late
70-Jul 71, until his murder in Israel’s Beirut raid of Apr 73. Only
published one collection of poetry, Jirah Tughanni (1961), though
others collected from his writings after his death. More extensive
description of writings is here.
Amin
Nasr (Amin Ibrahim al-Nasr: "Muhammad Samih"):
Nationalist
mayor of Qalqilya from 1976; arrested on 22 Sept 80 for publishing a
leaflet that condemned the "burden of the Israeli occupation".
Altho retained his position after 1982, was placed under town arrest in
1983. Stood as independent for election to PLC in Qalqilya, but not
elected.
Fu’ad
Nassar:
JCP leader. b.1914 in Nazareth, and became part of
anti-colonial movement from 1929. Commanded an insurgent detachment in
1936-9 revolt. Imprisoned in Iraq. Returned to Palestine in 1943 to take
leadership of NLL; also became secretary of Arab Workers Congress (from
1945). Became 1st leader of JCP in 1951; was jailed by Jordan until 1956
wh released by Nabulsi government. After Husayn’s counter-revn, was
exiled and supported (in opposition to JCP acting leadership)
fida’iyyun and opposed SCR242; creator of al-Ansar. Was 1st JCP
member to be accepted into PNC in 1/73. d.1976.
Mustafa
Natshah (Mustafa ‘Abd al-Nabi Natshah):
Mayor of Hebron. b.1930;
chairman of Arab Cement Company; deputy mayor of Hebron 1976-Jul 83, wh
deposed. Member of Palestinian delegation to the Madrid process.
Appointed as mayor by PA in 1994.
Rafiq
al-Natshah:
Fatah rep to Saudi Arabia; elected to Fatah-CC in
May 80.
Mamduh
Nawfal:
DF and Fida leader. Military commander of DFLP and
politburo member (up to 1990); may have had a role in the Ma’alot
operation (15 May 74); member of DF’s Nov 74 delegation to SU. Took a
role in mediating between the Fatah factions in Lebanon in mid-80s. Then
left to help establish Fida, of wh he became a politburo member. Also
member of PLO Higher Military Committee, and PNC.
Muhammad
Nazzal:
Hamas rep in Jordan from 1992; b.1963, Amman to a family
from Qalqilya; trained in Kuwait and Pakistan as a chemist.
Walid
Nimr (Walid Ahmad Nimr) [Abu ‘Ali Iyad]:
Early Fatah leader. From
Qalqilya; taught in Algeria and trained in its army in 1964. Recruited
through Wazir, and moved to join Fatah field command in Damascus
(1965), and briefly assumed control of Fatah wh ‘Arafat was arrested
(1966), until he too was arrested; thought to have negotiated with Asad
to determine Fatah’s role in Syria. Ran the influential training camp
for recruits at al-Hama in Syria in 1968. Became member of Fatah-CC with
overall responsibility for Syria and Lebanon. Strongly urged PRM to
pull back from Amman before Black Sept, but to no avail. Killed by
Jordanian forces at ‘Ajlun in Jul 71.
Anwar
Nusaybah:
(Anwar Zaki Nusyabah, 1913-11/86). Leading pro-Jordanian
notable in West Bank. b. in Jerusalem, from family that is the historic
custodians of the key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; studied at
al-Rawda college (old Jerusalem) and Arab College; and then Perse
school and read law at Queens College (grad.1934), both in Cambridge,
UK. Married Nuzha, refugee from Ramle (and later president of the
World Muslim Women's Organisation). Became a district judge in Jerusalem
and joined the Husayni faction; became secretary of the Jerusalem
National Committee in 1948, to administer the city; and then secretary
of the cabinet of the All-Palestine Government. Wrote memoirs
in 1949 on the defeat in the 1948 war, highly critical of the British.
Had also lost a leg in the 1948 war, after stepping on a landmine. Was
coopted by Jordan; became deputy for Jerusalem in Apr 50, and served as
the Chief Ar delegate to the Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission in
1951; then was inter alia Jordanian defence minister (from 1952-5,
intermittently), minister for construction and development (1952-4,
intermittently), minister of education; appointed to the Senate in Mar
53
(resigning when returned to Parliament in 1954) and again from Nov 63,
when also served as Governor of Jerusalem; and then ambassador to
London (1965). Was a founder member of the Arab Constitutional Party
(established 1956 under Tawfiq Abu al-Huda). After occupation, was a
leading West Bank supporter of Jordan, living in Jerusalem; and argued
from 1967 for a Palestinian acceptance of the 1947 Partition Plan (eg in
New Outlook, 11/2, Feb68). Chairman of Jerusalem Electric Company in
1980s. Buried within Haram al-Sharif.
Sari
Nusaybah (Sari Anwar Nusaybah):
PLO representative in Jerusalem.
b.1949[?], Shaykh Jarrar in E.Jerusalem, son of Anwar. Studied PPE at
Oxford (1971), received a PhD in Islamic Phily from Harvard (1978);
became professor of phily at BZU (1978-90). Married to Lucy Austin,
daughter of J.L.Austin; 4 children; resident in Bayt Hanina, but
awaiting permission to build on purchased land in Abu Tor. Founder and
head of the Palestinian Consultancy Group, undertaking research projects
on the management of Palestinian infrastructure. Was the first prominent
Palestinian to hold
talks with a senior Likud politician, Moshe Amirav, in 1987; was
assaulted by Palestinian activists for this. Later in 1987, became a
prominent advocate for Palestinian enfranchisement within a democratic
Israeli-Palestinian state, arguing that Palestinians cd not overcome
Israeli hegemony given that their own consciousness is shaped by Israel
(Jun87 al-Fajr seminar; reprinted in al-Fajr 9Aug87); seemed to support
Israeli de jure annexation of West Bank. Arrested in 1991 and charged
with betraying military information to Iraq. Became member of the
Palestinian steering committee to the Madrid talks and co-authored No
Trumpets, No Drums (1991) with Mark Heller, calling for a 2 State soln
in Palestine; has written dozens of other articles on Jerusalem and
the prospects for agreement with Israel. Often coordinates with Meretz
and Yossi Beilin in Israel. President of al-Quds
University from 1995. Appointed to Jerusalem position in early Oct
01; since then, has strongly criticised the direction of the
intifada, calls for the Palestinian refugees to give up their rights to
return to their homes in the 1948 Territories, says that he wd have
accepted Barak's offer at Camp David. Arrested briefly in Dec 01 for
arranging an Id al-Fitr celebration under the auspices of the PLO in
Jerusalem.
Faruq
al-Qaddumi [Abu Lutf]:
Head of PLO’s Political Department in Tunis
(PLO’s ‘Foreign Minister’), and Fatah central committee member.
b.1931, Jinsafut in Qalqilya district (SW of Nablus), but grew up in
Haifa; with 1948 war, returned to Nablus. Left for Saudi to work as a
personnel officer for ARAMCO in 1952-4; then trained in econmics and
polsci in Cairo (grad. 1958), where worked through GUPS; became a
Ba‘thist, but left after break-up of UAR and joined Fatah. Moved
between Libya, Saudi and Kuwait (wh worked for the Health Ministry
until expelled) until 1965/6. Settled in Damascus. Joined PLO-EC in 1969
to lead Department of Pop Orgs; then headed the pol department from 1973
→ extensively devd contacts with Arab States through 70s, tho
remained close to Syria and Iraq. Thought to have been close to
Sa‘id al-Muragha’s Fatah Uprising movement, and rumours that he
nearly joined it in 1983. Instead, became S-G of Fatah-CC. Rejected the
Oslo process, refused to sign DoP (replaced by ‘Abbas), become a
minister in PA or even enter PA areas (eg for 1996 PNC), but continued
to serve as FM, and accepted appointment as director of Palestinian
Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR), although
leaving its operation to Qurai‘. Is seen by many members of Fatah-CC
wh reject Oslo as a potential successor or replacement of ‘Arafat, but
has little popularity in West Bank and his role has largely been taken
over by Abu Mazin.
‘Isam
al-Qadi:
S-G of al-Sa‘iqa forces from 1979, taking over
after Zuhayr Muhsin's assassination. Rose through the Palestinian
Ba‘th party, of which he was S-G from 1972, and was a politburo member
of the pan-Arab command from 1975. Joined PNC and PLO-CC in the same
year. Served briefly as head of the military dept on the PLO-EC from
Sept79-80.
Walid
Qamhawi:
PNF leader. b.1924, grew up in Nablus, and trained as a
physician at AUB; grad in 1947, then specialised in surgery at Cairo
Uni; returned to Nablus to work with Iraqi Red Crescent in May 48 and
ran their hospital there until May49; then set up a maternity hospital,
and promoted family planning (further training in Ireland and Sweden
in early 60s). Briefly joined ANM in early 1950s. Established the
Cooperative Cultural Club in Nablus, which served to promote Palestinian
artists, in 1956-7, closed due to its closeness to Nabulsi government;
and was arrested intermittently over the next few years, esp when
became head of Nablus branch of the Ba‘th (after Bassam Shak‘a left
for Syria). Also was council member of Jordanian Medical Association
(1957-) and its chair 1963-9 (honorary from 1967). ANM member of the
1st PLO-EC, when became strongly opposed Shuqayri and denounced
Bourguiba in Tunis (Apr 65); resigned from EC (May 65). After occupation,
helped establish al-Maqassad hospital in Jerusalem; was deported for 2
months to Lebanon on 12 Sept 70 in retaliation for PF hijacking. In West
Bank, became a leader of PNF and deported again on 10 Dec 73, this time
to Jordan and permanently. Resumed position on the PLO-EC from 1974,
as head of PNFund (also building links with UN agencies and
development NGOs) and frequently clashed with ‘Arafat (offered
resignation in ’77 and ’79); finally resigned in Apr 81. Retired to
Rabieh, Amman, wh sought and failed to establish al-Quds Open
University (project terminated in 1989), finally won permission to
reenter West Bank in 1993. Author of “Catastrophe and
Construction” (al-Nakba wa al-Bina’a, 1956; blaming
backwardness of Arab civilisation for the Palestinian situation, and
calling for unconditional unity), and memoirs
(2000).
Abd
al-Sattar Qassim (Abdel Sattar Qassem)
Born 1948/9. Professor of Political
Science at Najah university in Nablus.
Has been jailed by Israel and also
served a total of 32 weeks in Palestinian jails for his dissident views.
In 1995 he survived a gun attack - he believes by Palestinian security
forces - with four bullets in his legs and hand.
He was arrested by the Palestinian
security apparatus in 1999 after signing a petition complaining about
corruption, but released several weeks later after protests from human
rights groups.
In May 2002, when the PA announced that
it was planning to hold elections, he became the first person to
announce that he would stand for the presidency against Yasser Arafat.
[Notes by Arab Gateway]
Nabil
Qassis:
Minister and Coordinator-General for "Bethlehem
2000" project from 1998. b.1945, the son of a soldier in the Arab
Legion. Left to study in Germany in 1963, training in Physics in Mainz.
Obtained his PhD in nuclear physics from AUB in 1972, and worked in
France and Italy. Returned to Palestine in 1980, and was appointed
professor of theoretical physics at Bir Zayt University in 1982,
chairing department from 1982 until his appointment as the university's
vice-president for academic affairs (1984-89). Was a member of the
Palestinian negotiating team at Madrid (1991-3). Served as a senior
figure in delegations to negotiations until 1998, including as deputy
head of the delegation to the Washington talks from 1993-4, occasional
head of delegations, and as a member of the permanent status negotiating
team (from Sept 99). Co-founder (in 1996) and head of the Palestine
Economic Research and Policy Institute (MAS) until 1998. Proponent of a
secular state. A frequent participant in unofficial negotiations with
Israeli leaders, such as those at Harvard University's Joint Working
Group on the right of return (1998), in South
Africa (Jan 02) and in Stafford, UK (May 02). Lives in Ramallah.
Ahmad
Qatamish (Ahmad Sulayman Musa Qatamish):
PFLP activist and writer
from Ramallah. Held in administrative detention from Sept 92 for 5 yrs 8
months, the longest single continuous period Israel has used. Wrote
3 bks in detention, on the nature of the occupation. Released on 15 Apr
98, after extensive Palestinian campaign.
In a subsequent interview,
he opposed PF's dialogue with 'Arafat, and spoke of the crisis within
the organization. After signing the "Call of the Homeland"
petition in Nov 99, was arrested by PA forces and held for 3 wks
without charge. Was reported to have rejected the post of deputy S-G at
the Jul 00 conference; has not taken on the high profile leadership role
that many in PFLP expected him to take.
Fahd
Qawasma:
b.1939, agronomist (serving in agriculture department of
Israeli military government in the West Bank) and mayor of Hebron from
1976 - only decided to stand after Natshi was deported just prior to the
elections. Moderate nationalist, a key figure in competition between
PLO, Jordan and Israel for support, and gradually swung to more
pro-PLO position in late-70s. Deported 2 May 80 for allegedly inciting
violence; appointed to PLO-EC in Nov84, but was assassinated in Amman by
unidentified gunmen on 29 Dec 84.
Nasir
al-Qidwa:
Palestinian ambassador to the UN. Joined Fatah in 1969,
became member of GUPS Executive Committee in 1974, later becoming GUPS
president. Completed training in dentistry at Cairo Uni in 1979. Became
executive member of Palestinian Red Crescent around this time. PNC
member from 1975; PLO-CC member from 1981, Fatah-RC member from 1989.
Appointed alternate Palestinian observer at UN from 1986; permanent
observer from 1991.
Taysir
Quba‘a:
PFLP leader. b.1938, from Qalqilya, a former leader of
GUPS. Became part of ANM command in Jordan post-67, but captured
infiltrating into the West Bank in Dec 67. Was PF’s first rep to the
PLO-EC from Jul 71-Jan 73; then put in charge of oppg the 1974 interim
programme in Lebanon after the formation of the Rejectionist Front, but
came to argue for the mini-State option in 1976-7 as a first step
towards liberating all Palestine. Politburo member until 1993. Deputy
head of PNC. Obtained permission from Israel to return to the West Bank.
Ahmad
Qurai‘ (Ahmad ‘Ali Muhammad Qurai‘) [Abu Ala’]:
Speaker of
the Palestinian Legislative Council and PLC member for Jerusalem.
b.1937 in Abu Dis, from a wealthy family. Joined Fatah in 1968. Had been
director of PLO’s foreign investment arm, director-general of PLO’s
economic department and member of financial subcommittee; elected to
Fatah-CC in Aug 89. Had a key role in negotiating Oslo accords as chief
of delegation, and headed negotiations wh led to the Apr 94 Paris
agreement and Sept 95 Oslo II agreement. Is chief negotiator in the
final status talks. Minister of Economy and Trade, then Minister for
Industry, in the first PA cabinets, before the PLC elections (1994-6);
prepared the PLO’s development strategy for the OTs in “Programme
for Development of the Palestinian national economy, 1994-2000”, and
became Managing-Director of PECDAR since its creation in 1993. Obtained
the highest no of votes in Jerusalem in the PNC elections. Has good
relations with West Bank NGOs, and is generally seen as
“pro-democracy”.
Salih
Ra’fat:
S-G of Fida; former leader of DFLP. A member of ANM
pre-67,
took leading role in the PFLP committee for the OTs in 1968. As a strong
leftist, he joined the breakaway PDF in Feb 69, and became member of
politburo. Captured by Jordan at ‘Ajlun in Jul 71, interred in Jafar
prison camp, and only released in general amnesty for PDF members in
mid-73 [was also made an honorary member of PLO-EC until Jan73 - ?].
Stayed in Jordan and re-arrested in Jul 74. Supported ‘Abd-Rabbu's
break from DFLP; nominal head of Fida.
Jibril
Rajub:
Head of Preventive Security Force in the West Bank, noted for
human rights abuses; Fatah-RC member. b.1953, Dura. Spent 17 years in
Israeli prison (1968-85) for throwing a grenade at a military vehicle;
learnt to speak fluent Hebrew and English in prison, entailing
frequent appearances on Israeli TV (where the Hebraization of his name,
Gavriel Regev, has taken hold). Released as part of a prisoner exchange,
but expelled from West Bank to Lebanon in 1988. Then based in Tunis,
acting as deputy to Khalil al-Wazir and acting as the advisor on the
intifada. Returned to West Bank in 1994. Has aimed to turn Fatah in the
West Bank into a much more loyal pro-PA organisation. Was subject of
rumours in Nov 97 that he was planning to take control of the West Bank
in the event of ‘Arafat’s health worsening; and was suspended from
Fatah-CC from Dec 97 for 8 months, ostensibly for denouncing the
nationalist credentials of Sakhr Habash (wh had accused him of
attempting to militarize Fatah). Is strongly opposed to any Jordanian
role in West Bank's future. Reportedly
accused by ‘Arafat of insubordination during a heated row over Rajub's
failure to prevent the storming of Hebron jail by Palestinian activists
(11 Feb 02). After Israel bombed his headquarters (3 Apr 02), he surrendered
50 activists sheltering there to Israel in a CIA-brokered deal >
strongly criticised, including by Dahlan's Gang of 5.
- Profile:
BBC
25 March, 2002
‘Abd
al-Aziz Rantisi:
Hamas spokesman in Gaza. b.Oct 1947, Yabna (nr
Jaffa); refugee in Khan Yunis. Trained as a medical doctor and
paediatrician in Alexandria Uni (-1972, 1974-6), wh he first came into
contact with the Ikhwan; on that basis, founded Islamic Centre in Gaza
in 1973 and joined Ikhwan as a member on his return to Gaza in 1976.
From then, worked in Khan Yunis and at Isl Uni Gaza from its opening
in 1978; but dismissed as head of paediatrics at Khan Yunis hospital by
Israel in 1983 and was variously imprisoned (esp Mar 88-Sept 90). Led
Hamas (w Zahhar) after Apr 89, and was deported by Israel to Marj
al-Zuhur in Dec 92, wh he acted as spokesman for the deportees. On
return, was re-arrested (Dec 93) and held until Apr 97. Again held by PA
in detention without trial for 21 months until Feb 00, accused of
involvement in the killing of Mohieddin Sharif. Arrested again in Jul 00
after calling the Palestinian participation in the Camp David talks an
act of treason; released in Dec 00; intermittently rearrested, esp in
Dec 01. Based in Shaykh Radwan area of Gaza City.
Muhammad
Rashid (Khalid Salam):
Economic advisor to ‘Arafat; deals with
PA’s business affairs. Was editor of Sawt al-Bilad, a weekly
magazine in West Bank that was 1stly under direct sponsorship of Wazir,
from 1986 under ‘Arafat. Was part of 3-man delegation that held talks
with Sharon in Jan 02, and was unofficially in charge of negotiating with
Israel during the Mar-May 02 onslaught, and heads committee on reform of
the PA established subsequently.
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