Leila Khaled Explained

Leila Khaled
Birth Date:9 April 1944
Birth Place:Haifa, Mandatory Palestine
Organization:Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Known For:Pro-Palestinian militancy
Movement:Arab Nationalist Movement

Leila Khaled (Arabic: ليلى خالد, pronounced as /ar/ born April 9, 1944) is a former Palestinian militant and member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). She is famous as the first woman to hijack an airplane.[1]

Khaled gained her prominence for her role in the TWA Flight 840 hijacking in 1969 and one of the four simultaneous Dawson's Field hijackings the following year as part of the campaign of Black September in Jordan.[2] After being imprisoned, she was released in a prisoner exchange for civilian hostages kidnapped by other PFLP members.[3]

Early life

Khaled was born on April 9, 1944 in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine, to Arab parents.[4] Her family fled to Lebanon on April 13, 1948, as part of the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight, leaving her father behind. At the age of 15, following in the footsteps of her brother, she joined the pan-Arab[5] Arab Nationalist Movement, originally established in the late-1940s by George Habash, then a medical student at the American University of Beirut.[6] The Palestinian branch of this movement became the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine after the 1967 Six-Day War.

Khaled spent some time teaching in Kuwait and, in her autobiography, recounted crying the day she heard that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.[7]

The hijackings

TWA Flight 840 (1969)

On August 29, 1969, Khaled was part of a team that hijacked TWA Flight 840 on its way from Rome to Tel Aviv, diverting the Boeing 707 to Damascus. According to some media sources, the PFLP leadership thought that Yitzhak Rabin, then Israeli ambassador to the United States, would be on board; he was not. She claims she ordered the pilot to fly over Haifa, so she could see her birthplace. No one was injured, but after the passengers disembarked, the hijackers blew up the nose section of the aircraft. After this hijacking, and a photograph of her (taken by Eddie Adams) holding an AK-47 rifle and wearing a kaffiyeh was reproduced in many publications, she underwent six plastic surgery operations on her nose and chin to conceal her identity and allow her to take part in a future hijacking, and because she did not want to wear the face of an icon.[8] [9]

El Al Flight 219 (1970)

On September 6, 1970, Khaled and Patrick Argüello, a Nicaraguan–American, attempted to hijack El Al Flight 219 from Amsterdam to New York City as part of the Dawson's Field hijackings, a series of almost simultaneous hijackings carried out by the PFLP. Khaled and Argüello threatened to detonate grenades if they were not granted access to the cockpit. The pilots refused to comply, and instead put the plane into a nosedive. Though sources differ on the chronology of these events, in the resulting scuffle someone hit Argüello in the head with a bottle of whiskey; Argüello shot and injured a crew member and reportedly threw a grenade which did not explode towards the passengers; and sky marshals shot Argüello multiple times, mortally wounding him. The pilot diverted the aircraft to Heathrow Airport in London. An ambulance took the injured crew member and Argüello to the hospital. The crewmember survived while Argüello died in the ambulance. Khaled was arrested though later released during a hostage exchange. [10] [9] [11]

Later life

Khaled has stated in interviews that she developed a fondness for the United Kingdom when her first visitor in jail, an immigration officer, wanted to know why she had arrived in the country without a valid visa. She also developed a relationship with the two policewomen assigned to guard her in Ealing and later corresponded with them. Khaled continued to return to the UK for speaking engagements until as late as 2002, although she was refused a visa by the British embassy in 2005 to address a meeting at the Féile an Phobail in Belfast, where she was invited as a speaker. Eventually she managed to speak to people at the Belfast Féile through a video link.[12]

According to Khaled, there is not an Arab-Israeli peace process. She stated "it's a political process where the balance of forces is for the Israelis and not for us. They have all the cards to play with and the Palestinians have nothing to depend on, especially when the PLO is not united."[6] Khaled also supports the Kurdish political movement surrounding the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and drew attention to the similar fate of the Palestinian and the Kurdish people.[13] [14] She has become involved in politics, becoming a member of the Palestinian National Council and appearing regularly at the World Social Forum.[15] [16] [17] [18]

She is married to physician Fayez Rashid, and lives with their two sons Bader and Bashar in Amman, Jordan.[19] She is irreligious.[4]

She was the subject of a film entitled Leila Khaled, Hijacker,[20] directed by Palestinian filmmaker Lina Makboul. It premiered in November 2005 at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam.[21]

In November 2017, Khaled was refused entry to Rome, Italy at the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, and was forced to return to Amman as she is a member of a group considered a terrorist organization by the Italian government.[22]

In mid September 2020, Khaled was scheduled to speak at a virtual Zoom conference at San Francisco State University hosted by Rabab Abdulhadi and Tomomi Kinukawa. Following lobbying by the Jewish coalition group "End Jewish Hatred," Zoom Video Communications along with YouTube and Facebook, prevented the conference from using their video conferencing software and platforms, citing compliance with U.S. export control, sanctions, and anti-terrorism laws.[23] [24] [25]

In popular culture

Sources

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'I Had to Be the Voice of Women': The First Female Hijacker Shares Her Story . VICE . Leila . Ettachfini . 4 August 2016 . September 20, 2020 . September 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200928110445/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9k99k7/leila-khaled-first-female-hijacker-profile . live .
  2. Web site: Notorious Palestinian Plane Hijacker to Promote BDS in South Africa . https://web.archive.org/web/20160217101441/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/1.635856 . February 17, 2016 . live . 27 June 2024 . 7 January 2015.
  3. Book: MacDonald, Eileen . Shoot the Women First . 1991 . . New York . 0-679-41596-3 . Leila Khaled . registration .
  4. Web site: Paula . Schmitt . Interview with Leila Khaled: 'BDS is effective, but it doesn't liberate land' . https://web.archive.org/web/20160312024404/http://972mag.com/interview-with-leila-khaled-bds-is-effective-but-it-doesnt-liberate-land/91000/ . March 12, 2016 . . 17 May 2014 . live . 27 June 2024.
  5. Web site: Palestinian patriot. The Jordan Times . October 29, 2015 . 17 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110617012904/http://www.jordantimes.com/index.php?news=5412&searchFor=Jansen . dead . Michel . Jansen . 4 February 2008.
  6. Web site: Leila Khaled: in her own words . https://web.archive.org/web/20080827170102/http://www.avsec.com/interviews/leila-khaled.htm . Aviation Security International . August 27, 2008 . 5 September 2000 . Philip . Baum.
  7. Book: Khaled, Leila. My People Shall Live. 1973. Hodder & Stoughton. London. 0-340-17380-7. July 13, 2006. August 18, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060818164725/http://www.onepalestine.org/resources/articles/My_People_Shall_Live.html. live.
  8. Web site: Timur . Moon . Leila Khaled — hijacked by destiny . . https://web.archive.org/web/20040820053731/http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2002%20Opinion%20editorials/Oct%202002%20op%20eds/Oct%2017%2C%202002%20op%20eds.htm . October 17, 2002 . August 20, 2004 .
  9. News: I made the ring from a bullet and the pin of a hand grenade . London . The Guardian . January 25, 2001 . 27 June 2024 . November 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201128071807/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/26/israel . live . Katharine . Viner.
  10. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 707-458 4X-ATB London-Heathrow Airport (LHR). Aviation Safety Network. 27 June 2024.
  11. Web site: Flight crews and security . Hijacked!. . 27 June 2024. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003701/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hijacked/peopleevents/p_crews.html. live.
  12. Web site: A just solution is the way out of conflict - Leila Khaled . An Phoblacht . 27 June 2024 . 11 August 2005.
  13. Web site: Iconic liberation activist at HDP congress: Long live Palestine, long live Kurdistan!. June 8, 2020. Duvar English. February 24, 2020 . en-GB. June 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608091319/https://www.duvarenglish.com/politics/2020/02/24/iconic-liberation-activist-at-hdp-congress-long-live-palestine-long-live-kurdistan/. live.
  14. Web site: Leila Khaled visited HDP MPs on hunger strike in Amed. 15 April 2019. June 8, 2020. ANF News. en. June 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608091317/https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/khaled-visits-mps-on-hunger-strike-34323. live.
  15. Web site: Past IPSC Events . https://web.archive.org/web/20120911045213/http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/ipsc/listIPSCEvents.php?branchID=everywhere&futureOrPast=past . September 11, 2012.
  16. Web site: The activistocracy . June 2009 . Achal . Prabhala . Infochangeindia.org . October 29, 2015 . February 28, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100228003936/http://infochangeindia.org/200906257801/Governance/Features/The-activistocracy.html . usurped .
  17. Web site: Press Conferences on the 28th of January . World Social Forum . 20 January 2005 . October 29, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070609163921/http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/dinamic.php?pagina=coletivas_280105_ing . June 9, 2007 .
  18. Web site: Palestine on the table at World Social Forum in Kenya . Palestine News Network . 24 January 2007 . October 29, 2015 . July 18, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718052551/http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1521 . dead.
  19. Web site: Interview: Palestinian Leila Khaled . Sana . Abdallah . September 3, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060903121752/http://irelandsown.net/leilakhalid2.html . September 3, 2006 . . July 21, 2003.
  20. Web site: Murphy. Maureen Clare. Violence or nonviolence? Two documentaries reviewed. Electronic Intifada. April 9, 2007. 27 June 2024. September 11, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070911003836/http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article6781.shtml. live.
  21. Web site: Hijacker . Leila Khaled . 27 June 2024 . January 15, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160115050017/http://www.leilakhaled.com/leila_frames.html . live .
  22. News: Leila Khaled respinta a Fiumicino . September 28, 2020 . Il Giornarle D'Italia. November 29, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171129095505/http://www.ilgiornaleditalia.org/news/cronaca/892943/Leila-Khaled-respinta-a-Fiumicino.html . November 29, 2017. dead . it.
  23. News: Flaherty . Colleen . Zoom Draws a Line . 27 June 2024 . Inside Higher Ed. September 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927005246/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/25/zoom-refuses-stream-university-event-featuring-member-terrorist-organization . September 27, 2020 . live.
  24. News: Greschler . Gabriel . Zoom will not host S.F. State event featuring Leila Khaled . September 28, 2020 . . September 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925163522/https://www.jweekly.com/2020/09/22/after-protest-zoom-will-not-host-s-f-state-event-featuring-leila-khaled/ . September 25, 2020. live.
  25. News: Osman . Nadda . Zoom criticised for cancelling webinar with Palestinian activist Leila Khaled . September 28, 2020 . . September 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926100523/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/zoom-criticised-cancelling-leila-khaled-webinar . September 26, 2020. live.
  26. Web site: Wilder – The Teardrop Explodes. https://web.archive.org/web/20040716055135/http://screamingsecrets.com/discography/tx_albums/html/a_5.html . July 16, 2004 .
  27. Web site: Fight over renaming of Sandton Drive after Palestinian Leila Khaled . Mabotja. Kgopi. December 1, 2018. Independent Online. South Africa. en. 27 June 2024. December 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165352/https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/fight-over-renaming-of-sandton-drive-after-palestinian-leila-khaled-18345787. live.
  28. Web site: The American Consulate at 1 Leila Khaled Drive? . Sackstein. Howard. December 6, 2018. Politicsweb . 27 June 2024. December 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165229/http://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/the-american-consulate-at-1-leila-khaled-drive. live.
  29. Web site: Magtens Korridorer – Leila Khaled Lyrics . Genius . 27 June 2024 .
  30. Commentary track (07m09s) on original DVD release (2000) of Doctor Whos The Robots of Death
  31. Book: Global Noise: Rap and Hip Hop Outside the USA . registration . leila khaled fun -da-mental. . Wesleyan University Press . Tony Mitchell . 60 . October 29, 2015. 9780819565020 . 2001 .
  32. Web site: ライラのバラード（英訳詩朗読）／PANTA-響 – 旗旗 . Lyra's Ballad (English translation poetry reading) / PANTA-Hibiki-Flag . ja . Bund.jp . August 1, 2014 . August 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140811051905/http://bund.jp/modules/x_movie/x_movie_view.php?cid=11&lid=175.
  33. Web site: （明大）中東フォーラム2012―アラブ民衆蜂起とパレスチナ解放【ライラ・ハリドさん来日】 – 旗旗 . (Meidai) Middle East Forum 2012-Arab People's Uprising and Palestine Liberation [Leila Khaled Visits Japan] – Flag Flag . ja . Bund.jp . August 1, 2014 . August 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140811051902/http://bund.jp/modules/piCal/index.php?action=View&event_id=0000006861.
  34. Web site: リッダ闘争40周年 ライラハリドさん来日 パレスチナ連帯京都WeekEnd 23 – 旗旗 . https://archive.today/20130413132525/http://bund.sakura.ne.jp/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=2232&cid=85. dead. 40th Anniversary of the Ridda Struggle Laila Khalid Visits Japan Palestinian Solidarity Kyoto WeekEnd 23 --Flag Flag . April 13, 2013. March 11, 2013 . ja.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Leila Khaled".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.