Barghouthi: "Dr. Abdel Shafi will remain a beacon of inspiration for us in our struggle for freedom, democracy and independence for our people"
Ramallah, 25-09-07: Following his death in Gaza last night, and on behalf of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI) and its supporters, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi today paid tribute to the PNI’s late President and one of its founding members, Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi, one of the greatest leaders of the Palestinian national struggle and a symbol of integrity, democracy and national unity.
Dr. Abdel Shafi was a co-founder and leading figure of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and a member of its First Executive Committee. He was also Chairperson of the First Legislative Council; the founder and head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the Gaza Strip; head of the Palestinian delegation at the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference; and President of the Palestinian National Initiative, which he co-founded in 2002.
Dr. Abdel Shafi was well known for his enormous efforts to protect human rights and in building democracy in Palestine.
Dr. Barghouthi conveyed his deepest sympathies to Dr. Abdel Shafi‘s wife and children, saying that Palestine has lost one of the heroes of the national struggle, a man who was a beacon of inspiration to all Palestinians.
Born in 1919, Dr. Abdel Shafi died at his home in Gaza City in the early hours of Tuesday morning of stomach cancer at the age of 88, after a life spent dedicated to the Palestinian cause and to defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
He will be laid to rest today following noon prayers at the great mosque in the centre of Gaza City.
The PNI, together with Palestinian national and Islamic parties and civil society have organised the following series of commemorative events throughout Palestine to pay tribute to Dr. Abdel Shafi:
- Ramallah: Tuesday 25 September, 18:30-22:00, Al Bireh Municipality Hall
- Ramallah: Wednesday 26 September, 10:00-15:00 and 18:30-22:00, Al Bireh Municipality Hall
- West Bank: Thursday 27 September, 10:00-22:00, PNI offices in all West Bank districts, including Ramallah
- Gaza Strip: 25-27 September, Dr. Abdel Shafi‘s home in the Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City
Haider Abdel Shafi, 1919-2007
- Born in Gaza City in 1919. Graduated from the College of Medicine, American University, Beirut in 1943. Appointed as head of medical services in the Gaza Strip from 1957-60.
- Served as chairman of the first Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza (1962-4). Also a delegate to the first all-Palestinian conference (Palestinian National Council) which convened in Jerusalem in 1964 and helped establish the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Served as a member of the first PLO-Executive Committee (1964-5). Developed a constituency and political base through the Gaza clinic system, and by 1966 was a leading PLO figure in the Gaza Strip.
- Deported to Lebanon in 1970 for his activities with the PLO; returned to Gaza later the same year.
- Founder and Director of Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the Gaza Strip from 1972, providing free medical care and a forum for cultural activities.
- Led the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991, and subsequently led the Palestinian negotiation team for 22 months in the Washington talks (1992-3). Eventually made final break with the Palestinian negotiating team over Oslo peace agreement. Dr. Abdel Shafi was one of the first to predict that the Oslo process would collapse because it failed to tackle the issue of settlements.
- Elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in 1996 with the highest number of votes as member for Gaza. Took up leadership of the PLC‘s political committee.
- In April 1998, initiated unity talks for all factions in Gaza.
- Following the outbreak of the second Intifada, he urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) to organise the Intifada rather than distance itself from it, and to widen its democratic base by forming a government of national unity, part of his long-standing struggle to build a unified leadership, democracy and respect for human rights.
- Co-founded the Palestinian National Initiative in 2002 along with Professor Edward Said, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, and Mr. Ibrahim Dakkak as a national platform for combining the struggle for national liberation and the return of refugees with the values of national unity, democracy and social justice.
- Resigned as a deputy in the PLC two years ago in protest at what he described at the time as the failure to deal with corruption in the PA.
- On April 8 2007, was presented with the Palestinian star of honour by President Mahmoud Abbas in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the Palestinian people to obtain their national rights and to struggle for national unity, and for his role as founding member and President of the Palestinian National Initiative.
Letters and e-mails of condolance may be sent to:
P.O. Box 1351
Ramallah
Palestine
Fax: +972-2-2980937
Email: almubadara@almubadara.org