# Fayez Sayegh

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fayez_Sayegh
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fayez_Sayegh.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayez_Sayegh
> Source revision: 1346971046
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Arab-American scholar and civil servant (1922–1980)

Fayez Sayegh فايز صايغ Born Fayez Abdullah Sayegh 1922 Kharaba, Mandatory Syria Died 1980 (aged 57–58) New York City, New York, United States Resting place Beirut, Lebanon Alma mater American University of Beirut Georgetown University Occupations Academic Civil servant Notable work Academic work Institutions Macalaster College American University of Beirut

**Fayez Sayegh** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): فايز صايغ; 1922–1980) was an [Arab-American](/source/Arab-American) diplomat, scholar and teacher. He was a scholar who developed various analyses on the Palestinian opposition movement against [Zionism](/source/Zionism).[1]

## Early life and education

Sayegh was born 1922 in [Kharaba](/source/Kharaba), [Mandatory Syria](/source/Mandatory_Syria), where his father was a [Presbyterian](/source/Presbyterian) minister.[2] He was one of Abdullah Sayigh and Afifa Batruni's six sons, including [Yusif Sayigh](/source/Yusif_Sayigh), [Anis Sayigh](/source/Anis_Sayigh) and [Tawfiq Sayigh](/source/Tawfiq_Sayigh).[3] He also had a sister, Mary.[3] His father was [Syrian](/source/Syrians) and his mother was [Palestinian](/source/Palestinians) and native of [al-Bassa](/source/Al-Bassa).[4]

As a child, Sayegh moved with his family to [Tiberias](/source/Tiberias) and went to school in [Safed](/source/Safed).[5] He received his bachelor's degree from the [American University of Beirut](/source/American_University_of_Beirut) (AUB) in 1941 and his master's degree from the same university in 1945.[2] In 1949, he earned his Ph.D. in philosophy, with a minor in political science, from [Georgetown University](/source/Georgetown_University).[6][7]

## Career

Sayegh, along with his brothers who had joined earlier, joined the [Syrian Social Nationalist Party](/source/Syrian_Social_Nationalist_Party) in 1943, a ["rabidly anti-Semitic, fascist organization \[with\] international ties to the far-right."](https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2019/09/30/pro-assad-lobby-group-rewards-bloggers-on-both-the-left-and-the-right/)[8].[2] He was later expelled from the party after [Antoun Saadeh](/source/Antoun_Saadeh) returned to [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon) in 1947, following his exile.[9] After receiving his Ph.D., Sayegh worked for the Lebanese Embassy in [Washington DC](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.). He also worked at the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations).[2] He taught at a number of universities, including [Yale](/source/Yale), [Stanford](/source/Stanford), [Macalaster College](/source/Macalaster_College), as well as at his alma mater AUB and at the [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford).[2]

Sayegh established the [Palestine Research Center](/source/Palestine_Research_Center) in Beirut in 1965 and served as its director-general for one year.[6][7] The center published his historical study entitled *Zionist Colonialism in Palestine* in 1965.[10] His brother, Anes, succeeded Fayez as the director-general of the Palestine Research Center in 1966.[7][11]

Sayegh was instrumental in the establishment of *[Shu'un Filastiniyya](/source/Shu'un_Filastiniyya)* which was started by the Palestine Research Center in 1971.[1] He was the major contributor of the United Nations General Assembly's [Resolution 3379](/source/United_Nations_General_Assembly_Resolution_3379) adopted in 1975.[1] The resolution supported the view that Zionism is a form of [racism](/source/Racism).[1] After this event he acted as the most visible spokesperson of the Palestinian cause.[1]

Sayegh made several appearances on American television as a commentator on the [Israeli–Palestinian conflict](/source/Israeli%E2%80%93Palestinian_conflict).[12]

## Views

Sayegh was one of the early scholars who analyzed the negative effects of the [sectarianism in Lebanon](/source/Sectarianism_in_Lebanon).[13] For him these effects of [sectarianism](/source/Sectarianism) emerged as a result of the popular life and popular consciousness, not of the historical events.[13] He argued that not only a political change but also a social change should occur for the unified Arab societies.[11]

Sayegh was the first scholar who developed the concept of the [Zionist settler colonialism](/source/Zionism_as_settler_colonialism).[14][15] He argued that [Palestinians](/source/Palestinians) would never accept "a fraction of rights in a fraction of their homeland."[16] He defined the racial principles of [Zionism](/source/Zionism) as [self-segregation](/source/Self-segregation), exclusiveness, and supremacy which are the elements of segregation.[1] These elements are the central characteristic of [apartheid](/source/Apartheid).[1]

He challenged [Israel](/source/Israel)'s arguments in the [UN](/source/United_Nations), asserting that resolutions regarding [occupied territories](/source/Occupied_territories) need not be "two-sided" since there is only one set of occupied territories.[17][18] Sayegh expressed empathy for all who suffer [foreign occupation](/source/Foreign_occupation), urging UN delegates to uphold [international law](/source/International_law) and [human rights](/source/Human_rights). Against this background, he rejected the notion of Palestinian [exceptionalism](/source/Exceptionalism), emphasizing universal principles and the importance of applying them consistently.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Sayegh and other diplomats and jurists[*[who?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Words_to_watch#Unsupported_attributions)*] helped bring attention to the Palestinian cause within the framework of [international law](/source/International_law) and [human rights](/source/Human_rights).[17]

## Death

Sayegh died in New York City in 1980 and was buried in Beirut.[2]

## Bibliography

- [*The Palestine Refugees*](https://archive.org/details/palestinerefugee00saye) (1952)

- [*The Arab-Israel Conflict*](https://archive.org/details/aic01amerged) (1956)

- [*Arab Unity: Hope and Fulfillment*](https://archive.org/details/arabunity0000saye/) (1958)

- [*Communism in Israel*](https://archive.org/details/CommunismInIsrael) (1958)

- [*The Dynamics of Neutralism in the Arab World: A Symposium*](https://archive.org/details/dynamicsofneutra0000unse) (1964)

- [*Zionist Colonialism in Palestine*](https://www.freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC12_scans/12.zionist.colonialism.palestine.1965.pdf), Research Center, Palestine Liberation Organization (1965)

- [*The United Nations and the Palestine Question*](https://www.freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC12_scans/12.united.nations.palestine.1966.pdf), Facts & Figures Series, No 2, Research Center, Palestine Liberation Organization (1966)

- [*Discriminations in education against the Arabs in Israel*](https://www.freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC12_scans/12.descrimination.education.against.1966.pdf), Facts & Figures Series, No 3, Research Center, Palestine Liberation Organization (1966)

- [*Palestine, Israel and Peace*](https://www.freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC12_scans/12.palestine.israel.peace.1970.pdf), Palestine essays, No 17, Research Center, Palestine Liberation Organization (1970)

- [*A Palestinian view*](https://www.freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC12_scans/12.palestinian.view..pdf), General Union of Palestinian students (1970)

- *The Record of Israel at the United Nations*

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ninaf_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ninaf_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ninaf_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ninaf_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ninaf_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-ninaf_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-ninaf_1-6) Nina Fischer (2020). ["Palestinian Non-Violent Resistance and the Apartheid Analogy"](https://zenodo.org/record/4065513). *Interventions*. **23** (8): 1129. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/1369801x.2020.1816853](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F1369801x.2020.1816853). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [234662442](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:234662442).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-matar_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-matar_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-matar_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-matar_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-matar_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-matar_2-5) Michael R. Fischbach (2005). ["Sayigh (family)"](https://books.google.com/books?id=GkbzYoZtaJMC&pg=PA440). In Philip Mattar (ed.). *Encyclopedia of the Palestinians*. New York: Facts on File Inc. p. 440. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780816069866](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780816069866).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hani_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hani_3-1) Hani A. Faris (2016). "Book review". *[The Middle East Journal](/source/The_Middle_East_Journal)*. **70** (1): 162–164. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [43698630](https://www.jstor.org/stable/43698630).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Prisoner of War: Yusif Sayigh, 1948 to 1949. Excerpts from his recollections"](https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/77903). *Jerusalem Quarterly* (29). Winter 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["فايز صايغ انتصار الحرية على الأيديولوجيا"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171115083105/https://palestine.assafir.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2183). *Palestine Assafir* (in Arabic). Archived from [the original](https://palestine.assafir.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2183) on 15 November 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Andrew_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Andrew_6-1) [Andrew I. Killgore](/source/Andrew_I._Killgore), "[25 Years After His Death, Dr. Fayez Sayegh’s Towering Legacy Lives On](http://www.washingtonreport.me/2005-december/in-memoriam-25-years-after-his-death-dr.-fayez-sayeghs-towering-legacy-lives-on.html)", *[Washington Report on Middle East Affairs](/source/Washington_Report_on_Middle_East_Affairs)*, December 2005, pp 22–23.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-marc_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-marc_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-marc_7-2) Gribetz, Jonathan Marc (2016). "When the zionist idea came to Beirut: Judaism, christianity, and the palestine liberation organization's translation of zionism". *[International Journal of Middle East Studies](/source/International_Journal_of_Middle_East_Studies)*. **48** (2): 246. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/s0020743816000015](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0020743816000015). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [163254448](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:163254448).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2019/09/30/pro-assad-lobby-group-rewards-bloggers-on-both-the-left-and-the-right/](https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2019/09/30/pro-assad-lobby-group-rewards-bloggers-on-both-the-left-and-the-right/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Beshara, Adel (2019). *Fayez Sayegh, The Party Years 1938-1947*. Black House Publishing. pp. 39–91. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1912759224](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1912759224).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Sayegh, Fayez (2012). "Zionist Colonialism in Palestine (1965)". *Settler Colonial Studies*. **2** (1): 206–225. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/2201473x.2012.10648833](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F2201473x.2012.10648833). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[1959.3/357351](https://hdl.handle.net/1959.3%2F357351). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [161123773](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:161123773).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-katqu_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-katqu_11-1) Quenzer, Katlyn (2019). [*Writing the Resistance: A Palestinian Intellectual History, 1967-1974*](http://hdl.handle.net/1885/155195) (PhD thesis). [Australian National University](/source/Australian_National_University). pp. 59, 96. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.25911/5d5149b41c470](https://doi.org/10.25911%2F5d5149b41c470). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[1885/155195](https://hdl.handle.net/1885%2F155195).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [*Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr.: Where Do We Go from Here in the Middle East?*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04YQ8vMygrQ). Retrieved 12 July 2023 – via YouTube.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-weiss_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-weiss_13-1) Weiss, Max (2009). "The Historiography of Sectarianism in Lebanon". *History Compass*. **7** (1): 146. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1478-0542.2008.00570.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1478-0542.2008.00570.x).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Walid Salem (2016). ["Jerusalem: Reconsidering the Settler Colonial Analysis"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1865399405). *Palestine - Israel Journal of Politics, Economics, and Culture*. **21** (4). [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1865399405](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1865399405).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Sune Haugbolle; Pelle Valentin Olsen (2023). ["Emergence of Palestine as a Global Cause"](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F19436149.2023.2168379). *[Middle East Critique](/source/Middle_East_Critique)*. **32** (1): 137. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/19436149.2023.2168379](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F19436149.2023.2168379). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10852/109792](https://hdl.handle.net/10852%2F109792).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Karsh, Efraim (1997). "Introduction: From Rabin to Netanyahu". *Israel Affairs*. **3** (3–4): 7. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/13537129708719427](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F13537129708719427).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_17-1) Allen, Lori (4 December 2020). [*A History of False Hope*](https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9781503614192). Stanford University Press. p. 162. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1515/9781503614192](https://doi.org/10.1515%2F9781503614192). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-5036-1419-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-5036-1419-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Sayegh, Fayez (January 2012). ["Zionist Colonialism in Palestine (1965)"](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2201473X.2012.10648833). *Settler Colonial Studies* (in Arabic). **2** (1): 206–225. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/2201473X.2012.10648833](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F2201473X.2012.10648833). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[1959.3/357351](https://hdl.handle.net/1959.3%2F357351). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2201-473X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2201-473X).

## External links

- ["Where Do We Go from Here in the Middle East?"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04YQ8vMygrQ), 60-minute video interview on [*Firing Line*](/source/Firing_Line_(TV_series)) with [William F. Buckley Jr.](/source/William_F._Buckley_Jr.) (1974)

- Fayez Sayegh, [Zionism: “A Form of Racism And Racial Discrimination” Four Statements Made at the U.N. General Assembly](http://www.ameu.org/Resources-(1)/Zionism-A-Form-of-Racism-2.aspx) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150723000735/http://www.ameu.org/Resources-(1)/Zionism-A-Form-of-Racism-2.aspx) 23 July 2015 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), 1976. Reprinted by [Americans for Middle East Understanding](/source/Americans_for_Middle_East_Understanding)

- [As'ad AbuKhalil](/source/As'ad_AbuKhalil), "[Before Edward Said: a tribute to Fayez Sayegh](https://web.archive.org/web/20150723113407/http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/22818)", *[Al Akhbar](/source/Al_Akhbar_(Lebanon))*, 9 December 2014

- [Fayez Sayegh](https://collections.lib.utah.edu/search?q=uum_fasc/) at [University of Utah Digital Library](https://collections.lib.utah.edu/), [Marriott Library Special Collections](https://lib.utah.edu/collections/special-collections/)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Netherlands Greece Poland Israel Academics CiNii People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef Open Library Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fayez Sayegh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayez_Sayegh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayez_Sayegh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.