Ambassador of Palestine Mr. Yahya Rabah to the Yemen Times:”For the sake of the Palestinian dream, anything could be sacrificed” [Archives:2003/665/Community]
Yahya Rabah is ambassador of Palestine to Yemen, dean of the diplomatic corps in Sana'a. He is considered of the prominent personalities in the political and diplomatic fields, and is one of the few ambassadors who combine literature, culture and politics. Throughout his term of office, he was able to produce a number of cultural and intellectual works such as short stories, and articles concerned with the Palestinian issue that promoted the cause and highlighted the suffering of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
Mr. Yahya Rabah was appointed ambassador of the Palestinian state to Yemen since the unity in 1990. After 13 years of service it was time to bid this special man farewell, and so Yasser al-Mayasi from the Yemen Times took the opportunity to interview him.
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
A: I was born in al-Sawfeer village north of Palestine in 1943. I did my secondary schooling in Gaza and university from Cairo. I joined the Fath movement in mid sixties and I worked in the military for around 20 years as a member of the National Palestinian Council. I was also member of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian Writers Union. I worked as head of the Palestinian Radio, was chief editor of a number of Palestinian newspapers, and then I was appointed ambassador to Yemen in 1990. I am married with two daughters and three sons.
Q: What is the reason behind your joining Fath Movement?
A: While I was studying at the university in Cairo, I heard about the establishment of a movement called Fath to liberate the Palestinian people from occupation. This movement came after many Palestinian assemblies had failed, and it had a strong propaganda. It was the open door before thousands of Palestinian youth in and outside, and was founded in the first place by President Yasser Arafat. It was a movement that gathered all segments and was able to contain all trends without major divisions because of the differences in the political trends/ parties opinions.
Q: How were you able to adapt between your cultural activities and diplomatic work? And also with the military work all under the occupation?
A: When I was working as a head of the Palestinian broadcasting establishment 30 years before, and was writing literature and cultural stories then, a decision came to transfer me to the military field. I thought then and many others as well that I would forget culture and creativity, but on the contrary, this event enriched my cultural and media experience through the rough military and diplomatic work. A hobby is important and I love cultural and media work.
Under the occupation a person must be ready to carry on any mission, whether military, media, diplomatic or others. The important thing is to persist, and I think that a diplomat must see things through the eyes of an intellectual, creative writer and vice-versa the intellectual needs the diplomat's experience so that he discovers many things that would have been difficult to be discovered else wise. And we, for the sake of realizing our dream of establishing a Palestinian State anything can be sacrificed.
Hardships grant man readiness to face various circumstances. Don't forget that the difficulties we live in Palestine make us view the world and life events through different perspectives.
Q: Was your cultural production more in Palestine or outside?
A: Most of my literature production was outside Palestine, in Sana'a. Although I left my country 13 years ago, it was present in my creative work. I wrote articles, and stories that displayed the Palestinian's suffering and how he always lives in exile. Among my productions are: “Absence Tree”, “Beyond the present moment”, “Him who did not leave”, “Love Birds”, “Words to Palestine”. In all those stories the suffering of the Palestinian people such as murder, and homelessness was present. For there is nothing harder than driving man away from his home by force.
Q: How do you see the Palestinian crises today with regards to the Arab weakness and cowardice?
A: Of the reasons why the Palestinian issue was portrayed and highlighted by its people in international events was that they could not depend on the Arabs due to their divisions and weakness. However, although Palestine was the first victim of Arab inability, it has become today an inspiration and motive to rise with this Arab world. Because the Palestinian people have drawn an example and map for all others about facing challenges in spite of the cruelty and ugliness of the Zionist government. They fight against Sharon's government and against the alliance between America and the Jews, and the world's bias toward the latter. However, day by day awareness increases and the world has started to realize that if peace is really the end it should solve the Palestinian crises and end this tragedy.
Q: The peace movement between the Palestinians and the Israelis, who is to blame for its failure?
A: Israelis alone are responsible for destroying the peace movement, because they are the powerful side who stands against peace. In the past, they brought down the Oslo treaty and everyone knows this. They fight against establishing an independent Palestinian state in Palestine. And their fraud is visible through their actions whether with the road map, or creation of violence, and aggravating the Palestinians and pushing them to the revenge. Sharon is looking for how to get rid of the pressure he is facing from the international community, so he is provoking violence. The Palestinian's must be smarter and wiser than to fall in traps set for them by Sharon and his government.
Q: Abu Mazin's Government, how do you evaluate its steps during the past period?
A: In spite of the high pressures this government is facing from Sharon and his government, Abu Mazin's government was able to realize many achievements. Abu Mazin succeeded through his visit to Washington to remove the ban on the Palestinian authority and the USA has started dealing with the Palestinian government again directly as the authorized side and not through other channels. He also managed to stop Sharon from having his way in the establishing of the barrier, even if just temporary.
Q: How was your stay in Yemen?
A: My presence in Yemen was linked to the very day in which the unity took place. On 22nd of May 1990 I arrived with President Arafat at Palestine Hall in Aden, where he introduced me to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and since that day I belonged to Yemen with all my heart. I have found in Yemen the substitute for my home and family and friends, and I emphasize that the Yemeni people have created a magnificent transformation. The miracle of the unity, the providing of a political environment, freedom of press and many other achievements any other country could not attain in spite of their resources.
I learnt through living in Yemen how to take things easily. For all diplomats in Yemen mingle with the Yemeni society who exchanges good feelings and strong friendship with them. This friendship makes us feel that we are part of this place and that we belong to Yemen. And this is what diplomats call the second wailing; because we joke around in the diplomatic corps saying that as diplomats, we cry twice with regards to Yemen, once when appointed here and another when leaving. For when being appointed we worry about how we'll adapt in this country which has its special peculiarities but when we live and mix with the Yemeni warm culture and create kind relations with the Yemenis we feel sad to leave and this is the second weep.
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