George Habash Prominent figure in the Palestinian national liberation movement Country: Israel

1. From Doctor to Radical Leader
2. Retirement and Intellectual Pursuits

George Habash: The Radical Leader of the Palestinian Liberation Movement

George Habash was born in 1923 into an Orthodox Christian family in the Palestinian town of Lydda (now known as Lod). During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, his family fled to Lebanon. Graduating from the medical faculty of the American University of Beirut, Habash adopted the party nickname Al-Hakim, which means "The Doctor" in Arabic.

From Doctor to Radical Leader

In 1967, Habash assumed leadership of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and remained its unwavering leader until his retirement. Initially, Habash chose a humanitarian profession as a pediatrician for his career, but later transformed into one of the most radical figures in the Palestinian resistance movement. He even earned the ominous nickname "The Father of Hijackings" after endorsing several passenger plane hijackings in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Retirement and Intellectual Pursuits

Following a meeting with the leaders of the PFLP in Damascus, Syria, Habash announced his retirement. After stepping down, he expressed his intention to engage in "intellectual work" and establish a center dedicated to studying the "Arab-Zionist struggle." While Habash did not provide any specific reasons for his retirement, it was no secret that he had been suffering from a heart condition for quite some time. The PFLP, alongside other radical Palestinian organizations, criticized Yasser Arafat's policies aimed at achieving a political settlement with Israel.

Overall, George Habash was a prominent figure in the Palestinian national liberation movement. From a doctor to a radical leader, his actions and ideologies left a lasting impact on the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.