On Sunday, December 29, 2024, the Yasser Arafat Foundation commemorated the birth of the revolutionary, legal scholar, and poet Saleem Al-Zanoon (Abu Al-Adib) at Al-Muntada hall of the Yasser Arafat Museum.
The event began with the Palestinian national anthem, followed by a moment of silence and the recitation of Al-Fatiha for the soul of the late President Yasser Arafat, the late fighter Abu Al-Adib, and all Palestinian martyrs.
Dr. Ahmed Soboh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Yasser Arafat Foundation, welcomed the attendees, stating, "By commemorating the birth of Saleem Al-Zanoon, we conclude the third consecutive year of the 'In the National Memory - Companions of the Path' program, where we have highlighted the symbols and leaders who were among the founders and companions of the late President Yasser Arafat."
He continued, "From the here, near the tomb of the founding president and his final trench, the foundation honors the man of revolution, law, and poetry, Saleem Al-Zanoon, in gratitude for what he contributed to Palestine and its cause."
Dr. Soboh reflected on 450 days of occupation aggression and gynocide aimed at ending the Palestinian cause and imposing colonial occupation and settlement, emphasizing the importance of steadfastness and unity in confronting this injustice.
He added, "On the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian revolution, we must return to our roots and reinforce the Palestinian national identity, strengthening the unity of our people in all its components."
He also stressed the need to confront those attempting to divert the national compass toward chaos and submission to foreign agendas.
Dr. Soboh reviewed some aspects and qualities of Abu Al-Adib, describing him as an exceptional national and literary figure, an intellectual and political value, who significantly enriched the history of the Palestinian revolution with his experience and contributed greatly to documenting the Palestinian cause.
In a speech delivered on behalf of Saleem Al-Zanoon’s friends, by Ruhi Fattouh, President of the Palestinian National Council, he stated, "Abu Al-Adib is an exceptionally high national figure in the Palestinian struggle, a towering figure in literature, poetry, and law, with many notable contributions to the history of the Palestinian cause."
Fattouh added, "Today, we all suffer from the bleeding wound in Gaza, caused by the genocide targeting the Palestinian existence, and we also face the strategic attack on the Palestinian cause in the West Bank. We must pay attention to what is happening in international circles and the schemes being plotted against us within their corridors, which are aimed at erasing our cause."
He further noted Abu Al-Adib's significant role in safeguarding the internal system of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) after the first legislative council elections in 1996, where there were attempts to replace the National Council.
Fattouh recalled Abu Al-Adib's virtues and qualities as a great leader, emphasizing his clear and substantial impact on the Palestinian National Council, particularly in the drafting of laws and resolutions. He stressed the urgent need for comprehensive national unity under the umbrella of the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, as we are now in a phase of strategic defense to preserve our existence as Palestinians.
Fattouh thanked the Yasser Arafat Foundation, its management, and its staff for their efforts in commemorating the national symbols of the Palestinians, reminding us of the leaders who sacrificed their lives for the Palestinian cause, even as many of their memories fade amidst the demands of daily life.
In a recorded speech, Saleem Al-Zanoon's eldest son, Dr. Adib Al-Zanoon, shared that his father was a kind man not only to his family but to everyone who worked with or interacted with him on a personal level.
He added that his father was a human being, teacher, leader, founder, fighter, poet, judge, and parliamentarian who dedicated his life to his homeland and the cause of his Palestinian people, beginning his revolutionary journey during his high school years in Gaza and his university studies in Egypt, eventually contributing to the founding of Fatah with great leaders such as Yasser Arafat, Khalil Al-Wazir, Salah Khalaf, and others in Kuwait.
Dr. Adib Al-Zanoon expressed his gratitude to the Yasser Arafat Foundation for honoring his father's memory.
The foundation also presented a film titled "The Man of Revolution, Law, and Poetry," which highlighted the life and contributions of the national fighter Abu Al-Adib in the Palestinian revolution, both in literary and political fields.
The event was attended by members of the Executive Committee of the PLO, the Central Committee of Fatah, the Revolutionary Council, and numerous prominent figures and writers. It also included an exhibition of photographs titled "Images from the National Memory of the Late Fighter Saleem Al-Zanoon."
