Anis Sayigh
Encyclopedia
Anis Sayigh was a Palestinian
Arab
historian. He chaired the Palestine Research Center and was one of the main driving forces behind the Palestinian Encyclopedia. He was the target of an Israeli assassination attempt in 1972, receiving a letter bomb which resulted in a partial loss of his eyesight and loss of several fingers.
, his family fled to Sidon
, Lebanon
where he went to high school. Sayigh studied political science at the American University of Beirut
and received his bachelor's degree in 1953. After graduating, he wrote for Al-Hayat newspaper
and Arab Week, and published his first book Lubnan at-Ta'ifi (Sectarian Lebanon). He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge
in political science and Arab history, and later taught at Cambridge in the Oriental Studies department. He returned to Beirut
in 1964 and edited the Engish-Arabic dictionary. In 1966, Sayigh met Ahmad Shukeiri
, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization
, and promoted the idea of establishing a Palestinian encyclopedia, and was appointed as the head of the PLO's Palestine Research Center succeeding his brother Fayez Sayigh. He died in an Amman
hospital on December 25, 2009.
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
historian. He chaired the Palestine Research Center and was one of the main driving forces behind the Palestinian Encyclopedia. He was the target of an Israeli assassination attempt in 1972, receiving a letter bomb which resulted in a partial loss of his eyesight and loss of several fingers.
Early life
Anis Sayigh was born in 1931 in Tiberias, Palestine to a Syrian Father and a Lebanese-Palestinian mother. His father was an Anglican minister. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, his family fled to Sidon
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
where he went to high school. Sayigh studied political science at the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
and received his bachelor's degree in 1953. After graduating, he wrote for Al-Hayat newspaper
Al-Hayat newspaper
Al-Hayat is one of the leading daily pan-Arab newspapers, with a circulation estimated over 200,000. It is the newspaper of record for the Arab diaspora and the preferred venue for liberal intellectuals who wish to express themselves to a large public....
and Arab Week, and published his first book Lubnan at-Ta'ifi (Sectarian Lebanon). He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in political science and Arab history, and later taught at Cambridge in the Oriental Studies department. He returned to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
in 1964 and edited the Engish-Arabic dictionary. In 1966, Sayigh met Ahmad Shukeiri
Ahmad Shukeiri
Ahmad al-Shukeiri also transcribed al-Shuqayri, Shuqeiri, Shukeiry, etc.), was the first Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, serving in 1964–67....
, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization
Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed...
, and promoted the idea of establishing a Palestinian encyclopedia, and was appointed as the head of the PLO's Palestine Research Center succeeding his brother Fayez Sayigh. He died in an Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
hospital on December 25, 2009.