Zuhdi Labib Terzi

Zuhdi Labib Terzi
1st Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations
In office
1974–1991
President Yasser Arafat
Succeeded by Nasser al-Qudwa
Personal details
Born 20 February 1924
Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine
Died 1 March 2006(2006-03-01) (aged 82)
Amman, Jordan
Spouse(s) Widad Awad
Children {[Karimah Zuhdi Tarazi]}, {[Kamel Ahmad Tarazi]}
Alma mater Terra Santa College
Religion Greek Orthodox

Zuhdi Labib Terzi {[nee Zuhdi Labib Suleiman Tarazi]},(20 February 1924 – 1 March 2006) served as the first Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations from 1974 to 1991.[1]

Ambassador to the UN

Terzi was the first Ambassador, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations and served from 1974 to 1991.[2][3] Terzi successfully fought attempts by the United States to close down the Mission, and following the 1988 Declaration of the Independence of the State of Palestine, Terzi changed the role of the Ambassador from representing the Palestinian Liberation Organization to representing the State of Palestine.[2]

In 1985, the United States Department of State refused Terzi the right to enter the United States for a debate with Harvard professor, Alan Dershowitz.[4] Consequentially, Harvard Law School brought suit against the Secretary of State George P. Shultz to permit Terzi to enter the United States.[4] The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts permitted Harvard's preliminary injunction and denied the Secretary's motion to dismiss.[4]

Personal life and education

Terzi, dubbed a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, was born to Orthodox parents in Jerusalem during the British Mandate.[1] He attended Terra Santa College, and graduated with a law degree in 1948.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ian Williams (7 March 2006), Zehdi Terzi, The Independent, retrieved 21 January 2015
  2. 1 2 "Former Ambassadors". Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  3. ↑ Kirkpatrick Refuses to Meet with the PLO Representative at the UN, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, March 31, 1982, retrieved January 21, 2015
  4. 1 2 3 "Harvard Law School Forum v. Shultz 633 F.Supp. 525 (1986)". Leagle. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
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