Imil (Emile) Shukri Habibi (Arabic: إميل حبيبي, Hebrew: אמיל חביבי, 21 January 1922 – 2 May 1996) was a Palestinian-Israeli writer and politician.
Political career
Born in Haifa to a Protestant Palestinian Arab family (his family had originally been Arab Orthodox but converted to Protestantism due to disputes within the Orthodox church), he became one of the leaders of the Palestine Communist Party during the Mandate era. He supported the 1947 UN Partition Plan and chose to remain in Haifa until his death, despite it coming under Israeli control following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
He served in the Knesset between 1951 and 1959, and again from 1961 until 1972, first as a member of Maki, before breaking away from the party with Tawfik Toubi to found Rakah. He left Rakah in 1989.
Writing
Habibi began writing short stories in the 1960s, and in 1972 resigned from the Knesset in order to write his first novel: The Secret Life of Saeed the Pessoptimist. A classic of modern Arab literature, the book depicts the life of an Israeli Arab, employing black humour and satire. He followed this by other books, short stories and a play. His last novel, published in 1992, was Saraya, the Ogre's Daughter.
Writing prizes
In 1990 Habibi received the Al-Quds Prize from the PLO, while two years later he received the Israel Prize.[1] His willingness to accept both reflected his belief in coexistence.
Footnotes
- ^ New York Times 7 May 1992 Jerusalem Journal; To a Novelist of Nazareth, Laurels and Loud Boos by Joel Greenberg
External links
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