Atef Adwan
Encyclopedia
Atef Ibrahim Mohammad Adwan (عاطف محمد إبراهيم عدوان) (also spelled Odwan, Udwan or Edwan) (nom de Guerre Abu-Sharif, his eldest son) is the Minister of Refugees in the Palestinian Authority, having been named to this position following the Hamas
victory in the Palestinian legislative election, 2006
, when he was elected from the Northern Gaza District.
Adwan was born in 1952 in the town of Beit Hanoun where he still resides in the far north of the Gaza Strip to a well educated family. He earned a higher diploma in political science in Lebanon
, probably in the early 1970s, a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Economics and Political Sciences in Cairo in 1978, followed by a graduate diploma from the Center for Arab Research and Studies at the Arab University, and masters and a Ph.D. from British universities between 1983 and 1987. He became an associate professor in 1996 and a professor in political science in 2001 at the Islamic University
in Gaza City. In addition to his political posts, he is acting chairman of the Islamic Society in Beit Hanoun
, preaches weekly at the Omar Bin Abed Al-Aziz mosque, and has published numerous books and research papers on political issues such as the relationships between the Jews and the Muslims in the early stages of Islam. He is also the chairman of the Future Research Centre in the Gaza Strip conducting polls and surveys in the Palestinian Political realm.
Adwan has been arrested several times by the Israeli government for alleged terrorist activities and the PLO-led Palestinian Authority for political activism through the years. In 1992 he was deported to Marj Al-Zuhour in Southern Lebanon where he wrote a book entitled "Marj Al-Zuhour Diary."
In almost every recent Israeli invasion of Beit Hanoun, Atef's house was subject to search by Israeli Defence Army.
Adwan has been a spokesman for a moderating voice within Hamas, having said among other things that the terms outlined by Israel at the Taba Summit
was something Hamas would seriously think about; claiming that while Sharia
would be the main source of Palestinian law, "you can't have a stream that goes against the world” (The Economist, February 2, 2006). He has opposed financial support from Iran on the grounds that it would make the Palestinian Authority a client of Iranian policy (The Jerusalem Post, February 22, 2006).
Granted an entry visa by Sweden
in 2006, Adwan visited a number of European countries under the provision of the Schengen Agreement
, often at the displeasure of the host countries. While in Sweden, he met with Moishe Arye Friedman, a noted anti-Zionist rabbi.
In Norway he was invited by former Prime Minister Kåre Willoch
to a private luncheon at Det Norske Selskab. Willoch commented that "A dialogue with Hamas is very useful."
Dr. Adwan had a fallout with President Abbas and the Fatah movement towards the end of last year that threatened his position as a minster in the Palestinian National Authority. He called the Fatah revolutionary parliament "Old Geeks" and accused the president of obeying America and Israel and not taking the interests of his people at heart.
Dr. Adwan's main concerns are the status of Palestinian refugees in Iraq where they are subjected to violence by the Shiite extremists throughout Iraq. He has travelled to Syria where he met with Syrian and Iraqi officials to address the issue and recently the Palestinian Legislative Council tried to pass a bill to bring a number of Palestinian refugees in Iraq back to Gaza, a step that Israel will certainly oppose.
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
victory in the Palestinian legislative election, 2006
Palestinian legislative election, 2006
On January 25, 2006, elections were held for the Palestinian Legislative Council , the legislature of the Palestinian National Authority . Notwithstanding the 2005 municipal elections and the January 9, 2005 presidential election, this was the first election to the PLC since 1996; subsequent...
, when he was elected from the Northern Gaza District.
Adwan was born in 1952 in the town of Beit Hanoun where he still resides in the far north of the Gaza Strip to a well educated family. He earned a higher diploma in political science in 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...
, probably in the early 1970s, a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Economics and Political Sciences in Cairo in 1978, followed by a graduate diploma from the Center for Arab Research and Studies at the Arab University, and masters and a Ph.D. from British universities between 1983 and 1987. He became an associate professor in 1996 and a professor in political science in 2001 at the Islamic University
Islamic University
Islamic University is a public university in Bangladesh financially aided by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. It was formed in 1985 in Kushtia under the Islamic University Act of 1980 to promote the Islamic system of education in the country. Islamic University started its academic...
in Gaza City. In addition to his political posts, he is acting chairman of the Islamic Society in Beit Hanoun
Beit Hanoun
Beit Hanoun is a city on the north-east edge of the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of 32,187 in mid-year 2006. It is administered by the Palestinian Authority...
, preaches weekly at the Omar Bin Abed Al-Aziz mosque, and has published numerous books and research papers on political issues such as the relationships between the Jews and the Muslims in the early stages of Islam. He is also the chairman of the Future Research Centre in the Gaza Strip conducting polls and surveys in the Palestinian Political realm.
Adwan has been arrested several times by the Israeli government for alleged terrorist activities and the PLO-led Palestinian Authority for political activism through the years. In 1992 he was deported to Marj Al-Zuhour in Southern Lebanon where he wrote a book entitled "Marj Al-Zuhour Diary."
In almost every recent Israeli invasion of Beit Hanoun, Atef's house was subject to search by Israeli Defence Army.
Adwan has been a spokesman for a moderating voice within Hamas, having said among other things that the terms outlined by Israel at the Taba Summit
Taba Summit
The Taba summit were talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, held from January 21 to January 27, 2001 at Taba in the Sinai peninsula...
was something Hamas would seriously think about; claiming that while Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
would be the main source of Palestinian law, "you can't have a stream that goes against the world” (The Economist, February 2, 2006). He has opposed financial support from Iran on the grounds that it would make the Palestinian Authority a client of Iranian policy (The Jerusalem Post, February 22, 2006).
Granted an entry visa by Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 2006, Adwan visited a number of European countries under the provision of the Schengen Agreement
Schengen Agreement
The Schengen Agreement is a treaty signed on 14 June 1985 near the town of Schengen in Luxembourg, between five of the ten member states of the European Economic Community. It was supplemented by the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement 5 years later...
, often at the displeasure of the host countries. While in Sweden, he met with Moishe Arye Friedman, a noted anti-Zionist rabbi.
In Norway he was invited by former Prime Minister Kåre Willoch
Kåre Willoch
Kåre Isaachsen Willoch is a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He served as Minister of Trade and Shipping in 1963 and 1965–1970, and as Prime Minister of Norway from 1981 to 1986...
to a private luncheon at Det Norske Selskab. Willoch commented that "A dialogue with Hamas is very useful."
Dr. Adwan had a fallout with President Abbas and the Fatah movement towards the end of last year that threatened his position as a minster in the Palestinian National Authority. He called the Fatah revolutionary parliament "Old Geeks" and accused the president of obeying America and Israel and not taking the interests of his people at heart.
Dr. Adwan's main concerns are the status of Palestinian refugees in Iraq where they are subjected to violence by the Shiite extremists throughout Iraq. He has travelled to Syria where he met with Syrian and Iraqi officials to address the issue and recently the Palestinian Legislative Council tried to pass a bill to bring a number of Palestinian refugees in Iraq back to Gaza, a step that Israel will certainly oppose.