Leila Sansour
Encyclopedia
Leila Sansour is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Open Bethlehem, a non-governmental foundation established to promote and protect the life and heritage of the city of Bethlehem
. Sansour developed the Bethlehem Passport in partnership with the city council and governor of Bethlehem. Pope Benedict XVI
became the first recipient of the Bethlehem passport when he accepted the citizenship of Bethlehem from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
in December 2005.
Leila Sansour is from an old Palestinian
Roman Catholic family. She was born in Moscow, February 16, 1966, when her Palestinian father, Anton, was teaching mathematics at Moscow State University
. Leila Sansour and her family returned to the city of Bethlehem in 1973 when Anton Sansour was asked to establish the Bethlehem University
, previously a Roman Catholic seminary.
Leila Sansour is a film director who produced the film Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army
[2003], following the British comedian Jeremy Hardy
and his travails during the siege of Bethlehem in 2002. She began her film work in television and produced the series Cultural Portraits for Al Jazeera
, featuring profiles of prominent Arabs who had made a significant world contribution in the arts, science or politics.
Leila Sansour studied at the Sorbonne
, Moscow State University
and the University of Warwick
. She is married to the British novelist Nicholas Blincoe
and has homes in Bethlehem and London.
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
. Sansour developed the Bethlehem Passport in partnership with the city council and governor of Bethlehem. Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
became the first recipient of the Bethlehem passport when he accepted the citizenship of Bethlehem from 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...
in December 2005.
Leila Sansour is from an old Palestinian
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...
Roman Catholic family. She was born in Moscow, February 16, 1966, when her Palestinian father, Anton, was teaching mathematics at Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. Leila Sansour and her family returned to the city of Bethlehem in 1973 when Anton Sansour was asked to establish the Bethlehem University
Bethlehem University
Bethlehem University is the first university founded in the West Bank, Palestine. Bethlehem University traces its roots to 1893 when the De La Salle Christian Brothers opened schools in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Nazareth, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt....
, previously a Roman Catholic seminary.
Leila Sansour is a film director who produced the film Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army
Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army
Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army is a 2003 feature documentary directed by Leila Sansour and starring Jeremy Hardy.-External links:* on YouTube* * -Reviews:* Peter Bradshaw, , The Guardian, 18 July 2003* * * *...
[2003], following the British comedian Jeremy Hardy
Jeremy Hardy
Jeremy James Hardy is a British alternative comedian who is also known for his socialist politics.-Career:Hardy was born in Farnborough, Hampshire. He attended Farnham College and studied Modern History and Politics at the University of Southampton...
and his travails during the siege of Bethlehem in 2002. She began her film work in television and produced the series Cultural Portraits for Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
, featuring profiles of prominent Arabs who had made a significant world contribution in the arts, science or politics.
Leila Sansour studied at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
and the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. She is married to the British novelist Nicholas Blincoe
Nicholas Blincoe
Nicholas Blincoe is an English author, critic and screenwriter. He is the author of six novels, Acid Casuals , Jello Salad , Manchester Slingback , The Dope Priest , White Mice , Burning Paris...
and has homes in Bethlehem and London.
External links
- Leila Sansour at Imbd.
- Leila Sansour at "Dreams of a nation", Columbia University