Jaweed al-Ghussein
Encyclopedia
Jaweed al-Ghussein was a Palestinian educationist and philanthropist.
Graduating in Economics he was elected President of the Students Union. A Contemporary of Yasser Arafat', they presented a petition signed in their blood to the first President of Egypt Mohammad Nagib demanding the rights of Palestinian students
He led the company for three decades as Chairman. Cordoba was one of the earliest pioneers in Abu Dhabi, responsible for the first water pipeline from the oasis Al-Ain to Abu Dhabi and subsequently fourteen years later another pipeline from Abu Dhabi to Al-Ain. The Cordoba Group and its subsidiaries went on to construct housing developments, the first English School, roads, water and sewage pipelines, hospitals and military bases. Cordoba went on to build some of the most important landmarks in the country including the iconic Sheik Zayed Cultural Center. Leaders in Micro tunneling Al-Ghussein sought to bring advanced and innovative techniques to the developing oil rich state
He immediately began an extensive programme of Reform, introducing accountable methods of collecting and disbursements of funds including cessation of putting investments in individual names.
A visionary referred to in the Arab press as the Nelson Mandela of the Middle East, his reforms created a schism with Arafat who wanted to maintain control over the funds collected.
A close friend of Arafat Al-Ghussein was instrumental in healing the wounds with the Late King Hussein of Jordan after Black September in the 1970s when Arafat attempted a stronghold over Amman Jordan.Black September in Jordan
Al-Ghussein was also a key figure in resolving disputes between the warring Palestinian factions in particular Arafats dispute with George Habash leader and founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of PalestineGeorge Habash
based in Syria.
He played a quiet role in the background resolving many disputes between the Palestinians and Arab nations
Al Ghussein fell out with Arafat over Iraqs occupation of Kuwait and was the only cabinet member of the PLO to condemn the invasion and occupation of Kuwait. His resignation was refused by Arafat . Invited to The White House to attend the signing of the Oslo Accords Oslo Accords
Tendering his resignation after Arafat failed to implement accountable structures and foundations in the emerging Palestinian state he called for the 'Rule of law', 'Accountability' and 'Transparency'
Abducted twice by Arafat . First from Abu Dhabi after Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen made a request to Sheik Seif Minister of interior. The second from the Red Crescent Hospital in Cairo by Egyptian security under the present Vice President of Egypt Omar Suileman.
Held hostage in Gaza for 16 months
The United Nations High Commission of Human Rights investigated and its Working Group on Arbitrary Detention placed his case in their highest category reserved for the most grievous deprivation of liberty http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/7B874EAB39CFFE5D85256E6F004B90D3.
The UN formally determined that Al-Ghussein was 'held manifestly with no legal justification' and urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) to remedy the situation immediately".
Arafat had previously maintained he wanted the repayment of an alleged loan. However, despite a scurrilous media smear campaign, Both the UAE Supreme Court and the Palestinian Commission on Citizens rights vindicated Al-Ghussein and found the allegations baseless and without foundation.
Freedom of the City Nashville USA
Early years
Born in Gaza in 1930, into one of the most prominent Palestinian families. A refugee in 1948 he went to Cairo Egypt with his family were he attended the American University of Cairo (AUC).Graduating in Economics he was elected President of the Students Union. A Contemporary of Yasser Arafat', they presented a petition signed in their blood to the first President of Egypt Mohammad Nagib demanding the rights of Palestinian students
Work
Al-Ghussein began his career in the Kuwait civil service in the 1950's before commencing his business career which began when he represented Parsons. In the early 1960s he was invited to the Trucial State of Abu Dhabi by the late Ruler Sheik Zayed Al-Nahyan to search for water. Al Ghussein went on to establish one of the leading Construction and engineering groups in the Gulf, the Cordoba Construction GroupHe led the company for three decades as Chairman. Cordoba was one of the earliest pioneers in Abu Dhabi, responsible for the first water pipeline from the oasis Al-Ain to Abu Dhabi and subsequently fourteen years later another pipeline from Abu Dhabi to Al-Ain. The Cordoba Group and its subsidiaries went on to construct housing developments, the first English School, roads, water and sewage pipelines, hospitals and military bases. Cordoba went on to build some of the most important landmarks in the country including the iconic Sheik Zayed Cultural Center. Leaders in Micro tunneling Al-Ghussein sought to bring advanced and innovative techniques to the developing oil rich state
Vision and Contribution
The Cordoba Group was ahead of its time and unique in that it provided training programmes for Palestinian engineers as well as internship programmes and employment. Al-Ghussein created specific funding programmes for the education Palestinian refugees. enabling them to continue with higher education and some have become leaders in the field of banking engineering, medicine and academiaThe Next Century Foundation
In the early 1980s Al-Ghussein founded with the late Claude Morris the British NGO, The Next Century FoundationNext Century Foundation to work for peace and understanding between Palestinians and Israelis. The foundation has gone from strength to strength widening its expertise to include conflict in the Middle East and Africa.Chairman of the Palestine National Fund
Having made his fortune in Construction Al-Ghussein was in 1984 elected in Amman, Jordan by the Palestine National Council (PNC) as Chairman of the Palestine National Fund (PNF). At the same he was also elected as an Independent to sit on the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).He immediately began an extensive programme of Reform, introducing accountable methods of collecting and disbursements of funds including cessation of putting investments in individual names.
A visionary referred to in the Arab press as the Nelson Mandela of the Middle East, his reforms created a schism with Arafat who wanted to maintain control over the funds collected.
A close friend of Arafat Al-Ghussein was instrumental in healing the wounds with the Late King Hussein of Jordan after Black September in the 1970s when Arafat attempted a stronghold over Amman Jordan.Black September in Jordan
Black September in Jordan
September 1970 is known as the Black September in Arab history and sometimes is referred to as the "era of regrettable events." It was a month when Hashemite King Hussein of Jordan moved to quash the militancy of Palestinian organizations and restore his monarchy's rule over the country. The...
Al-Ghussein was also a key figure in resolving disputes between the warring Palestinian factions in particular Arafats dispute with George Habash leader and founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of PalestineGeorge Habash
George Habash
George Habash also known by his laqab "al-Hakim" was a Palestinian nationalist. Habash, a Palestinian Christian, founded the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which pioneered the hijacking of airplanes as a Middle East militant tactic...
based in Syria.
He played a quiet role in the background resolving many disputes between the Palestinians and Arab nations
Al Ghussein fell out with Arafat over Iraqs occupation of Kuwait and was the only cabinet member of the PLO to condemn the invasion and occupation of Kuwait. His resignation was refused by Arafat . Invited to The White House to attend the signing of the Oslo Accords Oslo Accords
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles , was an attempt to resolve the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict...
Tendering his resignation after Arafat failed to implement accountable structures and foundations in the emerging Palestinian state he called for the 'Rule of law', 'Accountability' and 'Transparency'
Abducted twice by Arafat . First from Abu Dhabi after Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen made a request to Sheik Seif Minister of interior. The second from the Red Crescent Hospital in Cairo by Egyptian security under the present Vice President of Egypt Omar Suileman.
Held hostage in Gaza for 16 months
The United Nations High Commission of Human Rights investigated and its Working Group on Arbitrary Detention placed his case in their highest category reserved for the most grievous deprivation of liberty http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/7B874EAB39CFFE5D85256E6F004B90D3.
The UN formally determined that Al-Ghussein was 'held manifestly with no legal justification' and urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) to remedy the situation immediately".
Arafat had previously maintained he wanted the repayment of an alleged loan. However, despite a scurrilous media smear campaign, Both the UAE Supreme Court and the Palestinian Commission on Citizens rights vindicated Al-Ghussein and found the allegations baseless and without foundation.
Awards
Outstanding Achievement and contribution of an Alumni AUCFreedom of the City Nashville USA
External links
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2236709/Jaweed-al-Ghussein.html
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/11/israelandthepalestinians.middleeast
- http://www.ncfpeace.org/drupal/node/310
- http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/7B874EAB39CFFE5D85256E6F004B90D3
- http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/wgad/31-2001.html
- http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/Lords/ByDate/20091110/mainchamberdebates/contents.html
- http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=310704§ioncode=26