Sa'id al-Khadra (1895-1954) was a Palestinian Arab politician, lawyer, and newspaper columnist. As an Istiqlal leader, he helped organize anti-British and anti-Zionist activities in Palestine, including the 1936–39 Arab revolt, which resulted in his three-year imprisonment.
Subhi Sa'id al-Khadra
Istiqlal circa 1932. Al-Khadra standing fourth from left
Al-Khadra was born in Safed, northern Palestine in 1895 as the sixth child of his family. The Khadra were a rural family of notables who migrated to the city decades before.[1] When he was born, his 16-year-old brother Faris died. In 1901, his father died.[2] Subhi received his primary and secondary education in Safed and then studied at the Ottoman Sultanate School of Beirut. His teachers included his future Arab nationalist colleagues, Rafiq al-Tamimi and Adil al-Azma. After graduating, he attended the Imperial War College in Istanbul where he graduated with a commission in the Ottoman Army.[1]
Military careeredit
During the beginning of World War I in 1916, he fought with the Ottomans in southern Palestine, but deserted by surrendering to the British south of Gaza. After interrogation and debriefing in Cairo, where he provided several articles to the magazine Al-Kawkab, he joined Sharif Hussein bin Ali's forces in the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans. He was wounded several times while fighting Ottoman troops.[1] He was among the Arab forces led by Emir Faisal, son of Sharif Hussein, that entered Damascus in 1918 after driving out the remaining Ottoman forces.[2] In Damascus, he joined the Arab nationalist organization, al-Fatat. From 1918 to 1920, he worked in the Directorate of Public Security in Faisal's administration. Towards the end of this period, he married the sister of his Lebanese colleague in the Revolution, Fu'ad Saleem. During the Battle of Maysalun with the French Army on July 24, 1920, al-Khadra served as a combatant.[1]
Fight against the British in Palestineedit
After the French deposed Faisal's Damascus-based government following their victory in Maysalun, al-Khadra returned to Palestine.[2] There, he studied law and later opened his own practice. He wrote an article in 1930 that claimed Zionism was an "imperial British tool" and part of its divide-and-conquer method in the Arab world; he launched the slogan "The English are the origin of the malaise and at the head of every calamity".[3] He strongly supported Iraqi-Syrian unity and stressed that Palestine was the southern part of Syria.[4]British Police investigations found that al-Khadra actively led Palestinian Arabs in the 1929 Palestine riots in Safed.[5] As an attorney and a director of the Waqf (Islamic trust fund) in the Galilee, he helped establish the Young Men's Muslim Associations (YMMA) in the area.[6]
Al-Khadra became one of the nine founders of the Istiqlal Party in 1932. He explained in an article in al-'Arab that the party's purpose was to counter factionalism and self-interest in Palestinian politics which had left the liberation movement without direction. He asserted the Palestinian national movement for independence from Britain deviated from its goals.[7] The leading Istiqlal member in the Galilee (northern Palestine), he proposed holding annual anti-British rallies on the anniversary of the Battle of Hattin when Saladin's Muslim forces decisively defeated the Crusaders, restoring Palestine to the Islamic domain. The proposal was officially adopted after receiving Rashid al-Haj Ibrahim's support.[8]
Al-Khadra greatly assisted Arab guerrilla leader Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam with forming paramilitary units and increasing membership in his anti-Zionist movement.[9] Following al-Qassam's death in Ya'bad by British forces, al-Khadra, among others, organized the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine against the British Mandate. He was arrested and incarcerated in prison at Acre, Jerusalem and al-Manshiyya Farms for over three years until his release in mid-1940.[10]
Later life and deathedit
In September 1947, he was set to be the Palestinian Arab representative in the Military Commission of the League of Arab States, but was ultimately replaced by fellow Istiqlal member, Wasif Kamal.[11] Al-Khadra died in Damascus on 4 July 1954. He was survived by his son Faisal al-Khadra and daughters, Salma Khadra Jayyusi, Aida and Bouran. Faisal was a banker in Damascus, Kuwait, London and Amman, and also an investment manager in the latter until his retirement in 2005. Salma is a writer, editor and literary trend leader of outstanding international fame.[2]
Matthew, Weldon C. (2006), Confronting an empire, constructing a nation: Arab nationalists and popular politics in mandate Palestine, I.B. Tauris, ISBN1-84511-173-7
Sekaily, May (2002), Haifa: Transformation of an Arab Society 1918-1939, I.B.Tauris, ISBN1-86064-556-9
April 12, 2024
subhi, khadra, khadra, 1895, 1954, palestinian, arab, politician, lawyer, newspaper, columnist, istiqlal, leader, helped, organize, anti, british, anti, zionist, activities, palestine, including, 1936, arab, revolt, which, resulted, three, year, imprisonment, . Sa id al Khadra 1895 1954 was a Palestinian Arab politician lawyer and newspaper columnist As an Istiqlal leader he helped organize anti British and anti Zionist activities in Palestine including the 1936 39 Arab revolt which resulted in his three year imprisonment Subhi Sa id al KhadraIstiqlal circa 1932 Al Khadra standing fourth from leftPersonal detailsBorn1895Safed PalestineDied4 July 1954Damascus SyriaPolitical partyIstiqlal PartySpouseFu ad Saleem s sisterChildrenFaisal al Khadra Salma Khadra Jayyusi Aida BouranProfessionPolitician lawyer newspaper columnist Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 3 Fight against the British in Palestine 4 Later life and death 5 References 6 BibliographyEarly life editAl Khadra was born in Safed northern Palestine in 1895 as the sixth child of his family The Khadra were a rural family of notables who migrated to the city decades before 1 When he was born his 16 year old brother Faris died In 1901 his father died 2 Subhi received his primary and secondary education in Safed and then studied at the Ottoman Sultanate School of Beirut His teachers included his future Arab nationalist colleagues Rafiq al Tamimi and Adil al Azma After graduating he attended the Imperial War College in Istanbul where he graduated with a commission in the Ottoman Army 1 Military career editDuring the beginning of World War I in 1916 he fought with the Ottomans in southern Palestine but deserted by surrendering to the British south of Gaza After interrogation and debriefing in Cairo where he provided several articles to the magazine Al Kawkab he joined Sharif Hussein bin Ali s forces in the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans He was wounded several times while fighting Ottoman troops 1 He was among the Arab forces led by Emir Faisal son of Sharif Hussein that entered Damascus in 1918 after driving out the remaining Ottoman forces 2 In Damascus he joined the Arab nationalist organization al Fatat From 1918 to 1920 he worked in the Directorate of Public Security in Faisal s administration Towards the end of this period he married the sister of his Lebanese colleague in the Revolution Fu ad Saleem During the Battle of Maysalun with the French Army on July 24 1920 al Khadra served as a combatant 1 Fight against the British in Palestine editAfter the French deposed Faisal s Damascus based government following their victory in Maysalun al Khadra returned to Palestine 2 There he studied law and later opened his own practice He wrote an article in 1930 that claimed Zionism was an imperial British tool and part of its divide and conquer method in the Arab world he launched the slogan The English are the origin of the malaise and at the head of every calamity 3 He strongly supported Iraqi Syrian unity and stressed that Palestine was the southern part of Syria 4 British Police investigations found that al Khadra actively led Palestinian Arabs in the 1929 Palestine riots in Safed 5 As an attorney and a director of the Waqf Islamic trust fund in the Galilee he helped establish the Young Men s Muslim Associations YMMA in the area 6 Al Khadra became one of the nine founders of the Istiqlal Party in 1932 He explained in an article in al Arab that the party s purpose was to counter factionalism and self interest in Palestinian politics which had left the liberation movement without direction He asserted the Palestinian national movement for independence from Britain deviated from its goals 7 The leading Istiqlal member in the Galilee northern Palestine he proposed holding annual anti British rallies on the anniversary of the Battle of Hattin when Saladin s Muslim forces decisively defeated the Crusaders restoring Palestine to the Islamic domain The proposal was officially adopted after receiving Rashid al Haj Ibrahim s support 8 Al Khadra greatly assisted Arab guerrilla leader Sheikh Izz ad Din al Qassam with forming paramilitary units and increasing membership in his anti Zionist movement 9 Following al Qassam s death in Ya bad by British forces al Khadra among others organized the 1936 39 Arab revolt in Palestine against the British Mandate He was arrested and incarcerated in prison at Acre Jerusalem and al Manshiyya Farms for over three years until his release in mid 1940 10 Later life and death editIn September 1947 he was set to be the Palestinian Arab representative in the Military Commission of the League of Arab States but was ultimately replaced by fellow Istiqlal member Wasif Kamal 11 Al Khadra died in Damascus on 4 July 1954 He was survived by his son Faisal al Khadra and daughters Salma Khadra Jayyusi Aida and Bouran Faisal was a banker in Damascus Kuwait London and Amman and also an investment manager in the latter until his retirement in 2005 Salma is a writer editor and literary trend leader of outstanding international fame 2 References edit a b c d Matthews 2006 p 268 a b c d Palestinian Personalities K Archived 2005 07 08 at the Wayback Machine Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs PASSIA Matthews 2006 p 110 Matthews 2006 p 125 Kedourie 1982 p 56 Seikaly 2002 p 237 Matthews 2006 p 148 Matthews 2006 p 153 Kedourie 1982 p 67 Massad 2007 p 46 Levenberg 2007 p 118 Bibliography editKedourie Elie 1982 Zionism and Arabism in Palestine and Israel Routledge ISBN 0714631698 Levenberg Haim 1993 Military Preparations of the Arab Community in Palestine 1945 1948 Routledge ISBN 978 0 7146 3439 5 Massad Joseph 2007 Desiring Arabs University of Chicago Press ISBN 978 0 226 50958 7 Matthew Weldon C 2006 Confronting an empire constructing a nation Arab nationalists and popular politics in mandate Palestine I B Tauris ISBN 1 84511 173 7 Sekaily May 2002 Haifa Transformation of an Arab Society 1918 1939 I B Tauris ISBN 1 86064 556 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Subhi al Khadra amp oldid 1188784598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
