Personal Info
- Country of residence: United Kingdom
Information
Carl Issa Khalil Sabbagh, born in Worcestershire, England in the early 1940s, is a British writer, journalist, and television producer of Palestinian descent. He is the son of the renowned Palestinian broadcaster Issa Sabbagh and English mother Pamela Graydon, with Irish-American heritage. Despite his parents' divorce shortly after his birth, Sabbagh remained in England with his mother. He is married to Sue Heber-Percy, with whom he has four children.
Sabbagh's works predominantly focus on non-fiction, covering a wide array of subjects. He has authored books on historical events and produced documentaries for British and American broadcasters. Notably, Sabbagh has produced programs for the BBC and PBS, encompassing fields such as physics, medicine, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and technology. He was involved in producing the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, including notable lectures by George Porter and Carl Sagan.
One of Sabbagh's significant works is "Palestine: A Personal History" (2006), published by the Arab Foundation for Studies and Publishing. This book intertwines the history of Palestine from the eighteenth century with Sabbagh's paternal family's account, prominent Christian members of the Palestinian community in the Galilee. It critically examines the Zionist settlement in Palestine and challenges the narrative that Palestine was a land without a people, highlighting his family's deep roots in the region and their social and cultural ties.
In "Palestine: A Personal History," Sabbagh delves into his family's history and its connections to the social fabric of Palestine, refuting the claims that Palestine was uninhabited before the establishment of Israel. He emphasizes the need for a rational settlement to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, based on a comprehensive understanding of history and acknowledging the injustices inflicted upon the Palestinian people.
Aside from this seminal work, Sabbagh has authored several other books covering diverse topics such as medicine, mathematics, and British rule in Palestine. His contributions to literature and journalism have provided valuable insights into various subjects, contributing to a deeper understanding of complex issues.
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