The LBT INTERVIEW: KHALED MASHAL
A candid conversation about Hamas, Israel, the future of Palestinians and the meaning behind the rocket attacks on civilian targets.
With the cool grace of a darker George Clooney, Khaled Mashal (Arabic: Khālid Mashʻal) has led Hamas, the most important Palestinian movement, for nearly 10 years. Mashal belies everything one thinks of when he thinks “Palestinian leader.” Unlike the iconic but diminutive Yassar Arafat, Mashal stands a proud 6-feet tall and moves with power and confidence. His salt and pepper beard and closely cropped hair radiate the sex appeal of the ‘80s crooner George Michael.
Mashal was born in Silwad, a village north of Ramallah and moved to Jordan in 1967. While still attending Kuwait University, he rose as an Islamic student leader. After the founding of Hamas in 1987, Mashal came to lead the Kuwaiti faction of the organization. Mashal bounced around the Arab world after ejected by Kuwait in 1991 and landed in Gaza. He took power in 2006.
In 2010, The British Magazine New Statesman listed Khaled Mashal at number 18th in the list of “The World’s 50 Most Influential Figures 2010.” In that same year, the Turkish People Magazine named him “Sexiest Man Alive.”
Combative, brutal, whimsical, fierce, stubborn – all adjectives that apply to Mashal. As we quickly learned when we sat down with him, he takes everything seriously whether it is talking about Israelis or selecting authentic Middle Eastern olives to snack on.
the lbt:It’s been some week, hasn’t it Mr. Mashal?MASHAL:“Your Execllency.” You’re not kidding. You know it is bad when you are anxious to return to Gaza. But it is my adopted homeland, and my heart aches when not in Palestine. Soon we will be in Jerusalem. the lbt:Why did you feel you had to seek exile, Your Excellency? Should you not have stayed and stood alongside the Palestinian people? |
MASHAL:I need to be where I am most useful and can lead. Martyrdom would be my greatest honor, but selfish for me to embrace willingly. The Zionists wish me dead so why oblige them? [Looks at dish of olives on table.] What is this? [Motioning towards olives.]the lbt:I am sorry, Your Excellency. We meant to provide Middle Eastern olives not cocktail olives. MASHAL:These no good. No good!... We wait. [Lights cigarette.] |
THE LBT:There is a good Persian market down Pico [Blvd.]. Please allow us just 30 minutes to replace these. [25 minutes later the interview resumes. Mashal furrows his brow as he samples a Persian Santa Marino olive.]the lbt:Are you passionate about food, Your Excellency?MASHAL:What sort of question is this? |
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