Saturday, January 26, 2008
Respected Palestinian Leader George Habash Dies
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3E4F1FD5-CB24-407F-AC7C-94C4AF97E293.htm Dr. Habash and his wife, Hilda
Dr. George Habash died today in Amman. He was 81.
The founder for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Dr. Habash is the most well-known Palestinian refugee from Lydda, site of the biggest Jewish Army Massacre during 1947-48. After the massacre, its residents were forced to leave:
" . . . the inhabitants were terrorized into fleeing their city, and out of the 19,000 people who used to call al-Lydd home, only 1,052 were allowed to stay."
Dr. Habash was a pediatrician, graduating first in his class in Beirut in 1951. In 1952 he co-founded the Arab Nationalist Movement. He also opened a school for refugees and a clinic in Amman in 1952.
Known as "al-Hakim," which means "the doctor," or "the sage," Dr. Habash is well-respected among Palestinians for his unwillingness to compromise with the occupier, for his dedication to the liberation of all of Palestine, and for his integrity.
Dr. George Habash was born in Lydda, Palestine on August 2, 1926 and he died today, January 26, 2008.
May his memory be eternal.
