GEORGE HISHMEH

HISHMEH George Hishmeh Palestinian-American journalist George Hishmeh passed away on October 7, 2021 at the age of 88. He was born on December 29, 1932, in Nazareth, Palestine, to Salim and Asma Hishmeh. George's family lived in his beloved Haifa until 1948, when the Hishmeh family fled Palestine for Beirut, Lebanon. George was the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Star (Beirut) from 1962-1967. In 1967, he founded the first English newspaper in Libya. After emigrating to the US, George worked at the Chicago Sun-Times before becoming assistant foreign editor at The Washington Post, the first Palestinian editor on staff. He later joined the United States Information Agency and started their first Arabic language magazine, Al-Majal. In retirement, George wrote a weekly syndicated column published in The Gulf News (Dubai) and The Jordan Times (Amman). George was a founding member of the Washington Association of Arab Journalists and The American Task Force on Palestine. He championed the role of multimedia in shaping American public opinion about the Arab Israeli conflict. His writings and appearances always reflected that belief. George was a tireless defender of Palestinians' struggle for freedom and justice. His work as a founding member of The Jerusalem Fund fostered greater awareness about Palestine through community development and policy analysis. George is preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Marylinda "Lili" Wilson Hishmeh, and his brother, Suhail Hishmeh. He is survived by his son, Omar Hishmeh, his daughter, Leila Greenstreet, four grandchildren, and countless family and friends around the world. A celebration of life will be held on October 29, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Bethesda, followed by a reception at Columbia Country Club. In lieu of flowers, George's children ask that you donate generously to The Jerusalem Fund: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/georgehishmeh.