Naïm Khader

Naim Khader (1939–1981) was the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Belgium. He was assassinated in Brussels on 1 June 1981. The assassination remains unsolved.

Early life and education

Khader was born in Zababdeh, Mandatory Palestine, on 30 December 1939. He hailed from a Catholic family. He had six siblings, and his youngest brother, Bichara Khader, is a professor emeritus at the Université libre de Bruxelles.

Naim Khader attended the Latin Theological Seminary in Beit Jala from 1958 where he studied theology, philosophy and music.

Career and activities Following his graduation from the Seminary Khader served as a teacher at the Terra Sancta High School in Amman, Jordan, in 1964. He also served as a PLO representative at the European Parliament.

Assassination Khader was assassinated in the early hours of 1 July 1981 in front of his home in Ixelles municipality of Brussels. He died there instantly.

A Palestinian man living in Vienna was tried for the assassination of Khader in 1999 and was acquitted by the court.

Funeral service and burial A funeral service was performed for him at a Brussels church on 5 June 1981. His coffin was brought to Beirut the same day, and another ceremony for Khader was organized at a church with the attendance of Yasser Arafat, the PLO leader. His brother, Bichara, also published a book in memory of him. In addition, on 25 September 2025, a street in Ixelles was named in his honour. A documentary entitled La route d'El Naim was produced by the French-language public broadcaster RTBF, in collaboration with Temps Present.