Personal Info
- Country of residence: Palestine
Information
Born in Jaffa in 1935 to a Christian-Catholic family; son of Musa Nasir; received an MA in Physics from the AUB in 1962, and a PhD in Nuclear Physics from Purdue University, US, in 1967; returned to Palestine after the June 1967 War to participate in the development of Birzeit College into the first University in Palestine; became founding Pres. of the University serving in that post until his deportation by Israeli authorities to Lebanon in Nov. 1974 following pro-PLO student demonstrations; was based in Amman during his years in exile; independent PNC member since 1976; PLO Exec. Committee member from 1977-84 and put in charge of the Palestine National Fund until 1982; later responsible for higher education on PLO committees; returned to the West Bank in April 1993, resuming position as Pres. of Birzeit University until his retirement in 2004; remains chair of the PNC Education Committee.
Source
Achievements and Awards
Received several awards, incl. the Legion of Honor from France in 1996 and an Honorary Doctorate from the AUC in 2002; was appointed by Pres. Yasser Arafat to head the Central Elections Commission in Oct. 2002; member of the Administrative Board of the International Association of Universities; was UNESCO Rotating Chair in Archaeology 2004.
- Years in active
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