A Tribute to courage

It takes bravery to make peace much more than to make war. If anyone had this bravery, it would have been Jaweed.
Because it takes more strength and courage to forgive than to pour the sally in the wound.
Long before it became fashionable, Jaweed was one of the few within the PLO to extend his hand to the Israelis-paving the way for Oslo. With the Next Century Foundation, he has sown the seeds for the resolution of the conflicts to come.
I remember one of our last conversations, where he said we should recognize Hamas’
Victory because the movement was democratically elected—again one of the few among to embrace this position among pro-Peace Palestinians. Today both Abbas and the Israelis understand the need to engage with Hamas. I was always amazed at how, his body failing him, his thinking never lost his limpid and forceful flow. There are times when I blamed Arafat for what Jaweed was enduring. Had Arafat not abducted him for a year, he would have suffered less.
And yet, Jaweed impressed me with wisdom with which he spoke of his ordeal. He distinguished between Arafat - the man who took him, his old friend, a prisoner to serve his own interests- and Arafat- the man who could be affectionate and tender. It was not weakness from Jaweed, it was strength, the ability to see through the two of hem- the two Arafats.
I am going to miss Jaweed, his hospitality his warmth and his eloquence-the qualities of a true Palestinian. I just wanted to thank you for inviting me to bid farewell to Jaweed.
And I am grateful you offered me the chance to know this great man.
Benoit Faucon
Journalist and writer.
7. July 2008