Kamal Naji
Encyclopedia
Kamal Naji also known as Kamal Medhat was the deputy representative of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in Lebanon
and a former Fatah
intelligence chief in the country. He was killed by a roadside bomb while visiting a refugee camp to calm recent violence.
, Naji relocated to Lebanon when he joined Fatah at age 16. Naji was a confidant of Yasser Arafat
and Khalil al-Wazir. He rose within the PLO's ranks and earned a PhD in International relations and military science in the Soviet Union
. While the PLO was based in Lebanon in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Naji served as a close aide to Arafat.
Recently, Naji played a key role in calming violence and tension among various Palestinian groups in Ain al-Hilweh
and in fostering dialogue between Syria
, Lebanon and the Palestinian community. In reference to the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
, he stated "If Yasser Arafat was alive he would have started a third intifada and managed to make the Muqata'ah
the headquarters of the resistance and all kinds of envoys would be knocking on his door looking for a solution to end the fighting in Gaza."
camp near Sidon
. There had been a family feud the previous day, in which two Fatah members were killed, and Naji was visiting to send his condolences and attempt to calm the situation. The bomb was apparently hidden in a little shed on the side of the road and was detonated when Naji's convoy passed by. His car was thrown down a hill and reduced to a charred wreck, according to reporters at the scene of the explosion. The Palestinian factions of Lebanon's 12 refugee camps met in Ain al-Hilweh
to discuss the incident and aim to uncover the perpetrators of the attack. The size of the bomb was estimated at 25 kg.
, Fahmy al-Zaarir, said it was too early to speculate who was behind the attack, but Naji had sent messages earlier to the Lebanese justice authorities, telling them about various groups who were seeking to assassinate him. Abbas Zaki
, the top PLO representative in Lebanon, blamed Israel
for the killing and warned it would have serious repercussions in Lebanon and the Palestinian camps, saying "Those behind the killing are working in one way or another for Israel." Edward Kattoura, a Fatah official in Lebanon also accused Israel of assassinating Naji, stating, "According to the style of the operation it seems that Israel is behind this, because it is a very highly professional execution... We don't think the execution is related to the Palestinian problem as it is targeting the stable situation in Lebanon and in the Palestinian [refugee] camps." A "third Palestinian faction" led by Mohammad Dahlan working on behalf of Israel and the US was also suspected by some of Naji's death in an attempt to prevent Palestinian unity to confront Israel.
Osama Hamdan
, the Hamas
representative of Lebanon, said Naji had played a role in helping to ease tensions among the Palestinian factions in the country. "It is not possible to speculate on who committed this crime," he told Hezbollah's al-Manar
television station. The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
issued a statement condemning the killing. "President Abbas condemns the terrorist crime that targeted Major-General Kamal Naji. He dedicated his life to serve his people and his cause."
Hezbollah issued a statement condemning the alleged murder and claimed Israel arranged in Naji's death, stating "the fingerprints of the Zionists and was aimed at sowing discord." Walid Jumblatt
, Progressive Socialist Party
(PSP) leader paid a visit to Zaki to offer condolences. "I extend my condolences to the Fatah party and the Palestinian National Authority
. Fatah has always sacrificed its prominent members, for the Palestinian cause," Jumblatt told reporters afterward. Lebanese Forces
leader Samir Geagea
also condemned the killing saying it was a "terrorist attack" that targeted both Lebanese and Palestinian stability. Geagea called on the Palestinians to unite around their "just cause" and to stay away from conflicts that would "drain their will to persevere."
United Nations Secretary-General
, Ban Ki-Moon
condemned the "terrorist" attack. According to a statement from his press office, "The secretary general condemns the terrorist attack today,", adding that the UN chief hoped "the perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice promptly." Ban added "Such actions must not be allowed to endanger the climate of calm that currently prevails 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...
and a former Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
intelligence chief in the country. He was killed by a roadside bomb while visiting a refugee camp to calm recent violence.
Political activism
Born in the Jabalia Camp in the Gaza StripGaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, Naji relocated to Lebanon when he joined Fatah at age 16. Naji was a confidant of Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
and Khalil al-Wazir. He rose within the PLO's ranks and earned a PhD in International relations and military science in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. While the PLO was based in Lebanon in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Naji served as a close aide to Arafat.
Recently, Naji played a key role in calming violence and tension among various Palestinian groups in Ain al-Hilweh
Ain al-Hilweh
Ain al-Hilweh is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon with over 70,000 refugees, located on the outskirts of the port of Sidon. Because Lebanese Armed Forces are not allowed to enter the camp Ain al-Hilweh has been called a "zone of unlaw" by the Lebanese media...
and in fostering dialogue between Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Lebanon and the Palestinian community. In reference to the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
The Gaza War, known as Operation Cast Lead in Israel and as the Gaza Massacre in the Arab world, was a three-week bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel, and hundreds of rocket attacks on south of Israel which...
, he stated "If Yasser Arafat was alive he would have started a third intifada and managed to make the Muqata'ah
Mukataa
Mukataa is the name used to refer to the offices and administrative centers of the Palestinian National Authority.Mukataas were mostly built during the British Mandate as Tegart forts and were used both as British government centers and as dwellings for the British administrative staff. Some...
the headquarters of the resistance and all kinds of envoys would be knocking on his door looking for a solution to end the fighting in Gaza."
Death
On March 23, 2009, Naji and three others were killed when a roadside bomb exploded as his convoy was passing the at the Kifah el Musallah security check point to Mieh MiehMieh Mieh
Mieh Mieh is a village in southern Lebanon east of Sidon.-Etymology:The name of Mieh Mieh village derives from one of two origins:...
camp near 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...
. There had been a family feud the previous day, in which two Fatah members were killed, and Naji was visiting to send his condolences and attempt to calm the situation. The bomb was apparently hidden in a little shed on the side of the road and was detonated when Naji's convoy passed by. His car was thrown down a hill and reduced to a charred wreck, according to reporters at the scene of the explosion. The Palestinian factions of Lebanon's 12 refugee camps met in Ain al-Hilweh
Ain al-Hilweh
Ain al-Hilweh is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon with over 70,000 refugees, located on the outskirts of the port of Sidon. Because Lebanese Armed Forces are not allowed to enter the camp Ain al-Hilweh has been called a "zone of unlaw" by the Lebanese media...
to discuss the incident and aim to uncover the perpetrators of the attack. The size of the bomb was estimated at 25 kg.
Reactions
The Fatah spokesman in the West BankWest 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...
, Fahmy al-Zaarir, said it was too early to speculate who was behind the attack, but Naji had sent messages earlier to the Lebanese justice authorities, telling them about various groups who were seeking to assassinate him. Abbas Zaki
Abbas Zaki
Abbas Zaki is the former representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon and a member of Fatah's central committee.On November 7, 2008 Zaki called the United States "an enemy country"....
, the top PLO representative in Lebanon, blamed Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for the killing and warned it would have serious repercussions in Lebanon and the Palestinian camps, saying "Those behind the killing are working in one way or another for Israel." Edward Kattoura, a Fatah official in Lebanon also accused Israel of assassinating Naji, stating, "According to the style of the operation it seems that Israel is behind this, because it is a very highly professional execution... We don't think the execution is related to the Palestinian problem as it is targeting the stable situation in Lebanon and in the Palestinian [refugee] camps." A "third Palestinian faction" led by Mohammad Dahlan working on behalf of Israel and the US was also suspected by some of Naji's death in an attempt to prevent Palestinian unity to confront Israel.
Osama Hamdan
Osama Hamdan
Osama Hamdan is the top representative of Hamas in Lebanon and is a member of the organization's politburo. He is a member of the Arab National Congress and of the Arab Islamic Conference of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Institute in Lebanon....
, the Hamas
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...
representative of Lebanon, said Naji had played a role in helping to ease tensions among the Palestinian factions in the country. "It is not possible to speculate on who committed this crime," he told Hezbollah's al-Manar
Al-Manar
Al-Manar is a Lebanese satellite television station affiliated with Hezbollah, registered as Lebanese Media Group Company, broadcasting from Beirut, Lebanon. It has an offering a "rich menu" of high production news, commentary, and entertainment. The self-proclaimed "Station of the Resistance" ,...
television station. The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
issued a statement condemning the killing. "President Abbas condemns the terrorist crime that targeted Major-General Kamal Naji. He dedicated his life to serve his people and his cause."
Hezbollah issued a statement condemning the alleged murder and claimed Israel arranged in Naji's death, stating "the fingerprints of the Zionists and was aimed at sowing discord." Walid Jumblatt
Walid Jumblatt
Walid Jumblatt is a Lebanese politician and the current leader of the Progressive Socialist Party . He is the most prominent leader of Lebanon's Druze community.-Family:...
, Progressive Socialist Party
Progressive Socialist Party
The Progressive Socialist Party or PSP , also known as Parti Socialiste Progressiste in French, is a political party in Lebanon. Its current leader is Walid Jumblatt...
(PSP) leader paid a visit to Zaki to offer condolences. "I extend my condolences to the Fatah party and the Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
. Fatah has always sacrificed its prominent members, for the Palestinian cause," Jumblatt told reporters afterward. Lebanese Forces
Lebanese Forces
The Lebanese Forces is a Lebanese political party. Founded as a militia by Bachir Gemayel during the Lebanese Civil War, the movement fought as the main militia within the Christian-dominated Lebanese Front...
leader Samir Geagea
Samir Geagea
Samir Farid Geagea , born October 25, 1952, is a Lebanese politician. He is also a senior figure in the March 14 Alliance, alongside Saad Hariri and Amine Gemayel....
also condemned the killing saying it was a "terrorist attack" that targeted both Lebanese and Palestinian stability. Geagea called on the Palestinians to unite around their "just cause" and to stay away from conflicts that would "drain their will to persevere."
United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
, Ban Ki-Moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
condemned the "terrorist" attack. According to a statement from his press office, "The secretary general condemns the terrorist attack today,", adding that the UN chief hoped "the perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice promptly." Ban added "Such actions must not be allowed to endanger the climate of calm that currently prevails in Lebanon."