Fu'ad Nassar
Encyclopedia
Fu'ad Nassar was a Palestinian
communist leader. Nassar became associated with the anti-colonial
struggle in 1929. Joined the Palestinian Communist Party
. In charge of the military activities of the party during the 1936-1936 insurgency. Led the Nazareth branch of the Palestinian Arab Workers Society.
Nassar was imprisoned in Iraq
. He returned to Palestine
in 1943. With the Palestinian Communist Party
in crumbles, he and other younger Arab
communist leaders took the initiative to form the National Liberation League. Nassar became the General Secretary of the League. In 1944 the Nazareth
branch of the Palestinian Arab Workers Society broke away from the mother organization. In the same year, he helped establish the Arab language newspaper Al-Ittihad
.
When remaining West Bank
elements of the League merged into the Jordanian Communist Party
in 1951, Nassar became general secretary in the Jordanian party. He was arrested on December 29, 1951 and sentenced to ten year imprisonment. He was released by the Nabulsi government in 1956, but he had to leave Jordan soon thereafter as King Hussein
stepped up repression against communists forces.
With Nassar in exile, a power struggle emerged within the party. The acting general secretary inside Jordan, Fatim as-Salifi, was more prone towards seeking reconciliation with the government. Whilst the sector loyal to as-Salfiti party promoted non-military struggles against Israel
, Nassar argued that communists should actively take part in the liberation struggle. Moreover, he opposed United Nations Security Council Resolution 242
. He formed the Ansar Forces, a Palestinian communist militia 1970, under joint command of the Jordanian, Syrian
and Iraqi
parties. The Ansar Forces lasted for three years, and in practice received little assistance from the Jordanian Communist Party.
In January 1973, Nassar was the first communist to be adopted into the Palestinian National Council
.
Nassar died in 1976.
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...
communist leader. Nassar became associated with the anti-colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
struggle in 1929. Joined the Palestinian Communist Party
Palestine Communist Party
The Palestine Communist Party was a political party in British Mandate of Palestine formed in 1923 through the merger of the Palestinian Communist Party and the Communist Party of Palestine...
. In charge of the military activities of the party during the 1936-1936 insurgency. Led the Nazareth branch of the Palestinian Arab Workers Society.
Nassar was imprisoned in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. He returned to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
in 1943. With the Palestinian Communist Party
Palestinian Communist Party
The Palestinian Communist Party may refer to:*Socialist Workers Party of 1919 which was a precursor to**Palestinian Communist Party **Communist Party of Palestine, which existed from 1922 to 1923...
in crumbles, he and other younger 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...
communist leaders took the initiative to form the National Liberation League. Nassar became the General Secretary of the League. In 1944 the Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
branch of the Palestinian Arab Workers Society broke away from the mother organization. In the same year, he helped establish the Arab language newspaper Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad (Israeli newspaper)
Al-Ittihad is an Israeli Arabic language daily newspaper based in Haifa. Once considered the most important Arab media outlet in Israel, it is owned by Maki, the Israeli Communist Party, and was edited by a former Maki/Hadash Knesset member, Ahmad Sa'd until his death on 20 April 2010.-History:The...
.
When remaining West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
elements of the League merged into the Jordanian Communist Party
Jordanian Communist Party
The Jordanian Communist Party is a communist political party in Jordan, founded in 1948. Its current general secretary is Dr. Munir Hamarana...
in 1951, Nassar became general secretary in the Jordanian party. He was arrested on December 29, 1951 and sentenced to ten year imprisonment. He was released by the Nabulsi government in 1956, but he had to leave Jordan soon thereafter as King Hussein
Hussein of Jordan
Hussein bin Talal was the third King of Jordan from the abdication of his father, King Talal, in 1952, until his death. Hussein's rule extended through the Cold War and four decades of Arab-Israeli conflict...
stepped up repression against communists forces.
With Nassar in exile, a power struggle emerged within the party. The acting general secretary inside Jordan, Fatim as-Salifi, was more prone towards seeking reconciliation with the government. Whilst the sector loyal to as-Salfiti party promoted non-military struggles against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Nassar argued that communists should actively take part in the liberation struggle. Moreover, he opposed United Nations Security Council Resolution 242
United Nations Security Council Resolution 242
United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on November 22, 1967, in the aftermath of the Six Day War. It was adopted under Chapter VIof the United Nations Charter...
. He formed the Ansar Forces, a Palestinian communist militia 1970, under joint command of the Jordanian, Syrian
Syrian Communist Party
The Syrian Communist Party was a political party in Syria, founded in 1944. It became a member of the National Progressive Front in 1972...
and Iraqi
Iraqi Communist Party
Since its foundation in 1934, the Iraqi Communist Party has dominated the left in Iraqi politics. It played a fundamental role in shaping the political history of Iraq between its foundation and the 1970s. The Party was involved in many of the most important national uprisings and demonstrations...
parties. The Ansar Forces lasted for three years, and in practice received little assistance from the Jordanian Communist Party.
In January 1973, Nassar was the first communist to be adopted into the Palestinian National Council
Palestinian National Council
The Palestinian National Council is the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization and elects its Executive Committee, which assumes leadership of the organization between its sessions. The Council normally meets every two years. Resolutions are passed by a simple majority with a...
.
Nassar died in 1976.