Riad Anees, Haneen Zoubi, and Basel Ghattas
I met Riad in 1974 as a university student; he helped us in our efforts to establish the Arab High School Students' Committee. Azmi Bishara was the person to visit Riad in his home before the founding conference of the Committee in early April 1974. That experience was only the beginning of a long journey together. At times we were separated and at times our lives intersected; we came together again closely eight years ago in the National Democratic Assembly as members of the party's Central Committee and Politburo.
Riad Anees, Haneen Zoubi, and Basel Ghattas |
We worked together and had a strong relationship over the past eight years; years full of turbulent political events and difficult situations, in which many accomplishments were realized alongside failures. We lived moments of joy together and tasted the bitterness of failure together. This period was actually sufficient time, quantitatively and qualitatively, to get to know Riad and to offer some elucidation on his qualities and capabilities, primarily as a political and party leader. |
To begin with, I must record, for fact and for history, that Riad and I found ourselves completely congruent in all the controversial situations and issues that were discussed within the party. Some thought we coordinated with each other before the formal meetings, but the fact that our positions corresponded originated from common political and intellectual visions and values, free from any personal agendas.
Riad was distinguished as a political leader, as he had a piercing opinion and a clear ability to systematically analyze things, separate the ample from the inadequate, and then draw the right conclusions on key issues. He did this based on his national democratic thought and his deep belief in the values of freedom and equality, especially the equality of women and values of social justice. He was characterized by a strong aversion to various forms of fanaticism and anything that perpetuates the deterioration of the social situation. Therefore, his positions were always in favour of social freedom. In addition he had a clear position on all matters relating to the Palestinian cause, with firm adherence to the national rights, particularly following the intensification of the divisions in the Palestinian arena. Riad was one of the first opponents of the Oslo agreement; he was aware of its risks and the fact that it would not bring peace nor achieve the minimum conditions necessary to ensure some relative justice in solving the Arab-Israeli conflict. All of this made Riad a first-rate political and party leader who held a special status in the party ranks and between the members. He set an example for all in the national movement and in particular for the young party members, with his daring and courage, his humility and high morals. These noble personal qualities also allowed him to combine a distinct and firm political position while at the same time maintaining good personal relationships and open channels with everyone.
Perhaps one of his most prominent positions in recent years was his support for the nomination of a woman to the Knesset through a guaranteed place on the National Democratic Assembly Party's list. In the latest party conference, he fought firmly until the conference agreed to secure a place for a woman among the top three candidates. Thanks to this revolutionary decision, an Arab woman, Haneen Zoubi, became a Member of Parliament for the first time ever within an Arab party in these last elections. Riad personally supported her from the time of her nomination in the 2006 primary elections through her electoral victory this year. Riad was able to see this achievement realized in his lifetime and he felt great satisfaction for his large personal role in making it happen. Riad's role and political legacy will not wane with his death, but will remain a shining beacon of the national movement for generations to come.