Zuheir Mohsen

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Zuheir Mohsen (Arabic: زهير محسن, also transcribed Zuhayr Muħsin or Zahir Muhsein) (b. 1936, d. 1979) was a Palestinian leader of the Syria-sponsored as-Sa'iqa faction of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) between 1971 and 1979.

[edit] Trouw interview

Zuhair Mohsen is widely known for having made the following statement in a March 1977 interview with the Dutch newspaper Trouw:

The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.

[edit] Role in Massacre

In 1976, Zuheir Mohsen gained notoriety for being the commander of the Arab forces that invaded the Lebanese Christian town of Damour, which resulted in the massacre of hundreds of Christian citizens, known as the Damour massacre.

Mohsen was assassinated on the 15th of July 1979 in Cannes, France.