![]() |
Ghassan Kanafani taught me that we write in blood for you Palestine, that we will die standing and that there is always enough place in this sacred soil for another martyr. |
Ghassan Kanafani never carried a gun, even though he was entitled to carry more than one given that it was the guns of Zionism that took over his homeland. Ghassan Kanafani was a writer, artist and a dreamer. He also was a lover: his love letters to Ghada Samman were some of the best love letters one can read – interestingly Ghada only released his letters to her but not hers to him.
Kanafani was a major figure in the Kuwaiti and Lebanese press and his articles were published under a pseudonym in al-Hawadith magazine, among others. Kanafani was gifted in the media and his political posters were one of the best in the 20th century.
Israeli terrorists have killed scores of our writers, scholars, scientists, poets, artists, in addition to scores more of our leaders and commanders. Israel pioneered the art and practice of terrorism and it can be said to be the real inspiration for al-Qaeda.


I grew up hearing stories about Ghassan Kanafani. He was a close friend of my uncle Naji, who knew him from the Movement of Arab Nationalists. And when Kanafani was murdered, George Habash said, “he took my half with him.”
For some reason, I always missed Kanafani. My school bus when I was a boy, passed daily in front of the al-Hadaf magazine offices. Here was the truly pioneering revolutionary magazine that was founded by Ghassan Kanafani. I still have some of the early issue. I touch them carefully knowing that they were designed and produced and written by this talented man.
The West does not know of our scientists or artists or writers. They only know of our “terrorists”. In the US, I often ask college students around the country if they have heard of Bin Laden. They all have, of course. I then ask them to name any Palestinian or Arab poet or writer or scientists. None can (in the UK, the experiment produces different results and the college students there are certainly more knowledgeable).
Mahmoud Darwish was only covered in the Western media when he wrote a poem that offended Israelis. The New York Times only then covered him and provided a translation of the “offensive” poem. Darwish merely asked the invaders to leave his lands.
Year after year, we prove that we have not forgotten Ghassan Kanafani, and that we have not forgiven his killers. Year after year, we look at his pictures and stare at his eyes and know that something big happened when Kanafani was killed.
Year after year, we re-read his word and insist on the continuity of the project that he represented. Israelis habitually cover up their war crimes and massacres by lies, fabrications and distortions. They lied to the world and claimed that Ghassan Kanafani wrote his novels and painted his posters with a gun. Yet, his pen and brush proved to be stronger than the Israel gun that killed him.
In Memory of Ghassan Kanafani, The leader, the writer, the martyr
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!
No comments:
Post a Comment