Mural of writer Ghassan Kanafani in Bethlehem

Ghassan Kanafani (Acre April 9, 1936 - Beirut, July 8, 1972), novelist and storyteller, and a Palestinian journalist was assassinated by the Israeli intelligence (Mossad) in the July 8, 1972 at the age of 36, blew up his car in an area near Beirut Hazmieh. Wrote mainly topics Palestinian liberation, a member of the Political Bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In 1948 and was forced to flee his family lived in Syria, a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, and where he received Lebanese citizenship. Completed his secondary education in Damascus, and received the Syrian baccalaureate degree in 1952. Recorded in the same year in the Faculty of Arabic literature at Damascus University, but dropped out of school at the end of the second year, he joined the Arab Nationalist Movement, which attached to George Habash at their meeting in 1953. He went to Kuwait where he worked in teaching primary school, then moved to Beirut to work in the magazine Liberty (1961), which was spoken on behalf of the movement responsible for the cultural section where, then became editor (editor) of Lebanon, and issued them (Appendix Palestine) and then moved on to work Lights in the newspaper of Lebanon and was established when the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in 1967, he founded the magazine, speaking in its name carried the name "Journal of goal," was chaired by Ghassan edit, also became the spokesperson on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He married a Danish woman (Anne) and the livelihood of two sons Faiz and Laila. Wounded early diabetes. After his death, he received Bassam Abu Sharif, editor of the magazine.
Upbringing and his life
His father

Went out of his father's family Adeliaman families of Acre and was the largest for quite a few of the brothers, and since his father was not convinced of the usefulness of graduate wanted for his son to be a merchant or a writer or Mtaatia any profession ordinary but ambitious son my father only has to follow his high-enrolled at the Institute of Law Jerusalem in unusual circumstances. Empty-handed from the money and even encouragement, what was it only depend on his personal secure his life and his studies was sometimes trumps lecture to his colleagues and sometimes sell the oil, which sends it to him and his father bought and, instead, some kerosene, food, and shared some Aloosrovi her home, to come out as a lawyer. He returned to Acre, to marry a family of affordable and well-known and draws the traveler to work in the city of Jaffa, where the field work and welcome to build a future there. And struggled there, and his wife at his side to encourage him and grabbing share in good times and bad times and was successfully pleaded in most cases and especially during the national revolutions of Palestine, one of which was repeatedly arrested at the behest of the Jewish Agency. It was the custom of this young man taking his diary day by day, and this is the best what is retained from the pleasures of life, and borne with him wherever he or traveled, and was often up to them to read us some of them and we enjoy listening to the memories of the struggle, it was unique among his generation, and this was self-made man with outstanding views to us for example to follow. This is the father, Ghassan Kanafani, who was without a doubt a major impact in the lives of his sons Ghassan third.

Is the only one of his brothers was born in Acre, it was the custom of his family spend periods of leave and holidays in Acre, and tells about his birth that his mother while travail could not be up to her bed before you put her baby and almost newborn suffocated because of that and this happened on the ninth of April , 1936. Ghassan was awarded to entering a college Freres Biava was envied because he taught the French language studied by other than an increase. Did not continue his primary this only a few years. The family was living in the neighborhood of Jaffa Mansheya a neighborhood adjacent to Tel Aviv has witnessed the first incidents of friction between Arabs and Jews, which began there following a decision to partition Palestine. So he carried his wife's father and his sons and brought them to Acre and is returned to Jaffa, established a family there from October 47 to the year that was one of the nights in late April 1948, when the first attack happened on the city of Acre. Immigrants remained outside Acre on a hill pottery (Napoleon Hill) and left activists are defending their city and stop the men of the family in front of the house actually found on the outskirts of the country and each carries whatever is available from the weapon so as to defend the women and children, if necessary. It is worth mentioning here that some of the Salvation Army officers were standing with us and we offer them coffee Tbaaalma that led dispersed Shishakli writer was stationed on the outskirts of our town. The frequent the mouths stories massacres of Deir Yassin, Jaffa and Haifa, which her family fled to Acre, and the images are still fresh in mind. In this atmosphere was calm as usual, Ghassan sit to listen and watch what is going on.

Clashes have continued since the evening until dawn in the morning most of the families leave the city and the family of Ghassan who facilitate their departure with many families in a car shipped to Lebanon until they reached to Sidon, and after two days of waiting had rented a house in ancient town gas near Sidon in the far town at the foot of the mountain , continued the family in that house for forty days in harsh conditions as their father did not carry with him only a small fraction of the money has been spent in building a house in Acre and another in the neighborhood of Ajami Jaffa and this building had not completed it when forced to leave. Of gas moved by train to Aleppo with others and then to Zabadani then to Damascus, where settled in an old house from the houses of Damascus, and there began another phase of the severe stages of family life. Ghassan in his childhood was striking calm among all his brothers and his peers, but we discover that he always shared their problems and formatted it seems to be without it.

\ Then improved the conditions of the family and his father opened an office for the practice of law is he went along with his work in correcting the proofs in some newspapers and sometimes participated in the Liberation of Palestine in the radio program and the Syrian Students Program and had written some poetry, plays and emotional tracks.

It was that encourages him to take his hand and his sister have had in this period a significant impact on his life. During his high school emerged excellence in Arabic literature, painting, when finished the high school work in teaching in refugee schools, particularly in the school of the Alliance in Damascus and attended the University of Damascus to study Arabic literature and assigned to him at that time organizing wing of Palestine in Damascus International Fair and most of what he presented the effort Ghassan profile. This is in addition to other shows drawing supervised by.

At this time he had been involved in the Arab Nationalist Movement and was Ghassan forced sometimes to stay late into the night outside his home, which was causing him embarrassment with his father, who was keen to end it for his lessons university and I know he was trying his best to reconcile his work and devotion and the desire of his father.

In late 1955 he joined the knowledge to teach in Kuwait and was preceded by his sister in some years, as well as his brother. And the period of his stay in Kuwait was turning the stage accompanied by severe and that seems unreasonable to read the one shipped his great intellectual Bdvqh was an incredible read voraciously. He says he does not mention the Nam days to finish it without reading the entire book or at least six hundred pages and was read and absorb a striking manner.

And there began one of the newspapers is released in Kuwait and writes a comment politically signed "Abu al-Izz," drew attention to him greatly, especially after he visited Iraq after the Iraqi revolution of 1958 in contrast to what was published that work in Iraq.

In Kuwait also wrote short stories initial "T-shirt stolen," which won the first prize in a literary contest. Showed signs of diabetes in Kuwait and was also his sister had hit it before and at the same early age, which is closely Zadeh and thus the daughter of Mays star martyr, who was born in January 1955. He took Ghassan attend the Miss Every year a group of literary and artistic work and give to her and she was passionate about his love Boukhalha proud of his present annual boasted in front of her friends by not later than Ghassan about it, but in recent years due to pressure of work. In 1960, Ghassan came to Beirut to work in the Journal of freedom as it is known.
Ghassan pair

Beirut was a wider field of work, Ghassan and his chance to meet the moral and intellectual currents and political rights. Began his career in the Journal of freedom and then take it in addition to write an article for the weekly newspaper "editor" of Beirut, which was still published weekly every Monday morning. Drew his attention to him and his articles as a journalist, thinker and an earnest and active to the Palestinian issue was a reference for many of those concerned. In 1961 was held in Yugoslavia in which the student participated Palestine and also there was a delegation of Danes. Among the members of the Danish delegation girl, who specialized in teaching children. I met this girl the Palestinian delegation for the first time I heard about the Palestinian cause. And focused on the girl after the case and you wish to look closely at the problem Vhdt sail to the Arab countries through Damascus and then to Beirut, where he sent someone to meet Ghassan Kanafani, a reference to the issue and Ghassan explanation on the topic of the girl and visited it with the camps and they are highly vulnerable to enthusiastically Ghassan of the case, as well as injustice fact on this the people. Have not gone on to have ten days, but was Ghassan asked her to marry and has defined the family as the people are writing to. Were married on 19/10/1961 and they had Bfayz in 24/8/1962 and 12/11/1966 in the Lily.

Ghassan after he married his life and she attended a private health as it was often his illness causes him many complications to the irregular times his food. When he married he lived in Ghassan Hamra Street and go to the district Farm, then to Saint Takla four years when the owner asked him to evacuate his apartment by his brother in law bought his apartment by his current and reasonable rent. In Beirut, was injured from complications of diabetes, gout, a disease that causes joints excruciating pain the patient sit for days. But all that day could not be controlled in its activity or its ability to work was not described and the energy was used every moment of his time tirelessly. Despite all Anamake in his work, especially in the recent period, but that the right of his house and his children it was sacred. Hours were presence between his wife and children of the happiest moments of his age and he spends his vacation days (if he could, etc.) working in the garden of his home and giving it to his home and the taste of what the artist draws attention despite the modest value of its assets.
Ghassan case

Ghassan literature and literary production was always interacting with his life and the lives of people in all the books he was filming a reality lived or influenced by it. "Return to Haifa," which he described the journey in moving citizens of Haifa to Acre was aware of that and was still a child sits and watches and listens and then focused on these events in his mind later on the frequency of the novel. "The land of sad oranges" tells the story of his family's journey from their home in Acre and drinks. "Death bed No. 12" Inspired by his stay at the hospital due to illness. "Men in the Sun" from his life and the lives of Palestinians in Kuwait and on his return to Damascus in an old car across the desert, she was suffering and described is that image of virtual events while in its goal was the symbol and the perception of loss of the Palestinians in that era and turned their case to the case of a living installed, they may have strayed the road.

In his story, "What keeps you", which is complementary to "Men in the Sun" by the hero discovers the case, in the land of Palestine and that was promising to work commando. Stories of "the mother of Saad" and other stories were all inspired by real people. At a time, was preparing a story and a study of revolution Palestine 1936 he went to meet the population of the camps and listen to their memories of that era, which preceded and that followed has been prepared in this study but has not been published (published in the Journal of Palestine Affairs) The story is not destined to be completed, but completed chapters, including some pictures published in his book "about men and guns." Ghassan was appointed artist and pungent sense of delicate transparent it was in his mind in recent times the idea of ​​a fully fledged Inspired fascinating story of view it is one of the workers to break rock in garage, home building and was intended to call it "the man and the rock."
Maj. Ghassan

Must develop a detailed study on the life of Ghassan, political and literary journalist, but we limit ourselves in this quick examples included by mentioning some of the leadership positions in his life and Atha memory:

Ghassan was the first to write about the life of people of the Gulf backward and describe their lives and a stunning and accurate description in his story "Death of Bed No. 12," We can not stress here if others had written about it after him.

In the early revolution of the 58th brought Abdel Karim Qassem, to rule Iraq, visited Ghassan Baghdad and saw his sense of sincere deflection system, he returned and wrote about the signing, "Abul-Ezz," attacking the Iraqi regime, so she's resurrection Systems liberal against him that appeared to them deviation rule actually They were the first to Henoh that are registered earlier in the book so special.

Having received the chief editor of the newspaper "editor" developed a daily page of the comments were serious political and free them, he and others. Has developed one of the largest daily newspapers in Beirut similar page.

No one is unaware that Ghassan Kanafani was the first of the books on the poets of the resistance and disseminate them and talked about poetry and Ozjalhm popular in the early days of the definition of the Arab world felt set up, did not violate article I wrote for them the information by Ghassan became Mahadth them and then writing about "Poets Earth territory, "a reference due to a number of universities, as well as a reference for scholars.

The only serious study of literature was a Zionist and published by Ghassan Research Foundation entitled "in Zionist literature." Arab Journalists months now writes on the state of no peace, no war if we take a little to the months that followed the war of June 67 and followed Ghassan political comments at that time we found him to speak on the state of no peace, no war any years before the recent discovery reported in the Arab press and foreign.

We need a long time before they absorb the energy and talent that was enjoyed by Ghassan Kanafani. Are we talking about his friendship and say that it was not his enemy personally, nor at any time, any circumstance or talking about humility, a pioneer who was not interested in only a devotion to his work and his case or talking about his sacrifice and chastity of his hand who offered him thousands and millions and rejected as he owes the ten pounds of his colleagues. What can we say has been lost and we are what we most need it, to his faith and devotion and persistence over the years while others fall chips fall desperate and Guenuta Palace and the same.

Ghassan was a people in a man, it was an issue, has been reckoned, and can not be restored unless Nstaidh home.

Work in the Arab newspapers and magazines the following: - a member of the family editor of "opinion" in Damascus. - A member of the family editor of "Freedom" in Beirut. - Editor of the "liberated" in Beirut. - Editor of "Palestine" in the newspaper editor. - Editor of the Supplement to "Lights" in Beirut. - The owner and editor of "Journal of the target" in Beirut. Ghassan Kanafani was also an artist slender sense, designed many of the posters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, also painted many paintings.

Ghassan and children

Ghassan was often repeating: "Children are our future." Much has been written from the stories of the heroes of children. And published a collection of short stories in Beirut in 1978 under the title "Children of Ghassan Kanafani." The English translation, published in 1984 was entitled "Children of Palestine."
Of the works of Martyr
Stories and plays

Death bed No. 12 - Beirut, 1961. Short stories.
The land of sad oranges - Beirut, 1963. Short stories.
Men in the Sun - Beirut, 1963. Novel. The story of the movie "cheated".
Door (play). Arab Research Foundation. Beirut. 1964-1998.
World is not for us - Beirut, 1970. Short stories.
What keeps you - Beirut, 1966 - the story of a movie knife.
About men and guns - Beirut, 1968. Short stories.
Um Saad - Beirut, 1969. Novel.
Return to Haifa - Beirut, 1970. Novel.
The other thing - released after his death, in Beirut, 1980. Short stories.
Lover, and blind-Atrash, plum April 5 (incomplete novels published in its full volume)
Small lamp - Beirut.
Hat and the Prophet. Play.
Stolen Shirt and Other Stories. Short stories.
Bridge forever. Play.

Literary Research

Literature of resistance in an independent Palestine.
Resistant Palestinian literature under occupation 1948-1968.
In Zionist literature

Won the award in 1966 Friends of the book in Lebanon for his novel "What remains to you."
Won the award named the World Press Award in 1974 and Lotus in 1975.
Give his name and the Jerusalem Medal for Culture and Arts in 1990.

He died on the morning of Saturday, 8/7/1972 after that exploded bombs had been placed under his car in his home which led to his death with his sister, the daughter of Mays star Hussein (17 years).
External links

Site Ghassan Kanafani

Site of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

The official site of Ghassan Kanafani
Special file Ghassan Kanafani
Photo by Ghassan Kanafani
Graphics Ghassan Kanafani
Articles on Ghassan Kanafani
Words of Ghassan Kanafani
Graphics Ghassan Kanafani
Extension News newspaper on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Ghassan (Part I)
Extension News newspaper on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Ghassan (Part I)
Palestinian site: Ghassan Kanafani .. Witness and Martyr
Quotations and sayings by Ghassan Kanafani

Ghassan literary works

36-39 Revolution in Palestine - and the backgrounds and details of the analysis.
The story of the men in the sun.