Ibrahim Nassar

Ibrahim Nassar (1895-1985) was a Palestinian rebel commander and politician.

Life

Born in the town of Anabta, Nassar received his primary and secondary education in Beirut, graduating in 1912. He then enrolled at Al-Azhar University in Cairo and graduated in 1914. During World War I (1914-1918), he joined the Military Academy in Istanbul, and was appointed an officer in the Ottoman army. However, in mid-1916 he defected and participated in the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule. Nassar fought on the front of the Hejaz to Aqaba, and on the front east of the Jordan River to the city of Daraa.

He worked as a teacher in Nazareth for ten years (1922–1932) until he resigned as a form of civil disobedience against the British authorities. In 1932 Nassar joined the Youth Congress Party and was responsible for the Office of the Executive Committee at the second conference in 1935. He delivered a welcome speech to receive Prince Saud bin Abdul Aziz, while he passed through the town of Anabta on his way to Jerusalem.

Nassar joined the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine, fighting in the area east of Tulkarm. He formed a group of rebels based in Anabta and when the leader Fawzi al-Qawuqji arrived in Palestine in late August 1936, Nassar took part in a meeting of rebel leaders. He fought in the battle of Nur Shams near Tulkarm in June In this battle two British soldiers were killed and a British fighter plane was shot down, and in the battle of Bal'a in September, led by Qawuqji . Nassar also participated in the battles of Jaba, Beit Imrin and Kafr Sur. During the revolt, he served as a member of the Finance Committee set up by Qawuqji, which consisted of prominent rebel leaders.

Nassar died in 1985 at the age of 90.

Family

His daughter, Mahfozh, married Palestinian Poet Abdul Rahim Mahmud and he is the grandfather through her of Palestinian politician Tayeb Abdel Rahim.

See also

References