The End of an Era: Dr. Clovis Maksoud 1926-2016
BY:Warren David/Arab America President
With today’s passing of Dr. Clovis Maksoud, we are reminded of his illustrious career as an activist, diplomat, and scholar. A defender of Arab nationalism and unity; he was a passionate advocate for Palestinian sovereignty.
He was the Arab Leagues’s Special Envoy to the U.S., and then became the Ambassador to the Arab League and United Nations. He was an articulate spokesperson for the Arab League from the tumultuous era of the Arab oil embargo and the 1973 Arab/Israeli War—culminating with his untimely resignation in 1990 from The Arab League, in the wake of the Gulf War.
Dr. Maksoud in 1975 asking for Israel’s expulsion from the UN (from the Associated Press)
He went on to lead the Center for the Study of the Global South at the American University where he also taught at the American University School of Law. Over the years, he was the author of numerous articles for several Arab newspapers and journals. Additionally, he was a sought-after speaker who lectured eloquently at academic conferences and Arab American events throughout the U.S.
His wife, the late Dr. Hala Salam Maksoud, was a renowned activist and professor regarding Arab issues, and former president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Dr. Maksoud will be remembered for his unwavering support of Arab unity and nationalism and his advocacy for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.