Tawfiq Ziad facts for kids

Tawfiq Ziad (Arabic: توفيق زيّاد, Hebrew: תאופיק זיאד, also spelt Tawfik Zayyad or Tawfeeq Ziad, May 7, 1929 – July 5, 1994) was an important Palestinian Israeli politician. He was also a famous poet known for his "poetry of protest," which spoke about fairness and standing strong.

Tawfiq Ziad's Early Life and Work

Tawfiq Ziad was born in Nazareth, Palestine, during a time when the area was called the Mandatory Palestine and was under British rule. From a young age, he was involved in groups that believed in communist ideas, which focus on equality and shared resources. His special nickname was Abu el-Amin, meaning 'The Trustworthy One'.

Ziad played a big role in inspiring people in the Galilee region. He encouraged them to stand up against rules they felt were unfair and even urged them to protest taxes. Because of his activism, he was arrested several times and faced limits on where he could go. This happened especially during a period when Israel was under military rule, from 1948 to 1966. Between 1962 and 1964, he went to study at a special political school in Moscow.

Becoming a Leader in Nazareth

After returning home, Tawfiq Ziad was elected mayor of Nazareth on December 9, 1975. He led a group called the Democratic Front of Nazareth. His win was a big surprise and caused some concern among Israelis. He served as mayor for 19 years, until he passed away in 1994 while still in office.

Ziad was also elected to the Knesset, which is Israel's parliament, in the 1973 elections. He was part of the Rakah political party. In the Knesset, he worked hard to pressure the Israeli government to change its policies towards Arabs, both those living inside Israel and in the Palestinian territories. He even helped write a report about conditions in Israeli prisons. This report was shared with the United Nations and described the difficult situations faced by Arab prisoners.

Tawfiq Ziad's Poetry and Messages

Tawfiq Ziad was well known for his powerful poetry. A key idea in his poems was sumud, which means steadfastness or staying strong and determined, even when things are difficult. This idea became a major theme in literature as a way of showing resistance.

One of his most famous poems is Here We Will Stay:

In Lydda, in Ramla, in the Galilee,

we shall remain

like a wall upon your chest, and in your throat

like a shard of glass

a cactus thorn,

and in your eyes

a sandstorm,

We shall remain

a wall upon your chest,

clean in your restaurants,

serve drinks in your bars,

sweep the floors of your kitchens

to snatch a bite for our children

from your blue fangs.

This poem expresses the strong will of the Palestinian people to remain in their homeland, despite challenges.

Tawfiq Ziad's Passing

Tawfiq Ziad died on July 5, 1994, in a car accident in the Jordan Valley. He was on his way back to Nazareth from Jericho after greeting Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, who was returning from exile.

At the time of his sudden death, Ziad was still the Mayor of Nazareth and a member of the Knesset. He was considered a very important Arab lawmaker. He was survived by his wife and four children. A street in Shefa-'Amr is named after him to honor his memory.

See also

In Spanish: Tawfiq Ziyad para niños