The delegate-general of Palestine in Ireland, Dr Yousef Allan, who died on January 17th, was a very popular figure on the political and diplomatic scene.
Dr Allan's position in diplomatic circles was unique. He was representing a people who as yet have not acquired a state. There is little doubt that, had he lived to see a Palestinian state declared and recognised, he would have been Palestine's first ambassador to Ireland.
He had been active in the Palestinian cause since his student days. He had a particular interest in labour matters and through his work built up many contacts in the trade union movement, including SIPTU and MSF.
He became the public face of Palestine in Ireland just as the Oslo peace agreement was being implemented and was responsible for the arrangements when the then-chairman and later president of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat, made his first official visit to Ireland in 1993. Arafat, who had a special regard for Dr Allan, had nominated him as Irish representative the previous year.
One of Dr Allan's proudest achievements was a charity dinner organised in a Dublin hotel in November 1999. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was guest of honour and several Arab ambassadors travelled from London. Others involved included TDs Des O'Malley and Phil Hogan and Fianna Fail senator Michael Lanigan. Trade union groups were prominent among those who took tables for the evening and £70,000 was raised for a maternity hospital in Bethlehem.
Dr Allan regularly took part in debate on radio, television and in universities with the Israeli ambassador, Mark Sofer. Despite their obvious political disagreements, the two men became friends.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, had a strong regard for the convivial Dr Allan.
In view of the historic parallels between the two peoples and our membership of the EU, Ireland has considerable diplomatic importance in Palestinian eyes. While Dr Allan was not a prototype for the smooth-talking, super-efficient diplomatic bureaucrat, he generated much goodwill for the Palestinian cause. His last public event was a reception at a Dublin hotel to mark UN Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People on November 29th.
Yousef Allan was born in the town of Halhoul, which is near Hebron, perhaps the hottest trouble-spot on the West Bank. He attended university in Baghdad, where he obtained a primary degree, before emigrating to Britain where he continued his studies and emerged with a Ph.D in mathematics.
He was the representative of the Palestinian trade union movement in Britain and had very good contacts in the Labour Party, particularly in the House of Commons. He retained a residence in the Wimbledon district of London but visited Ireland very frequently where he felt very much at home.
Much of the goodwill in the Irish political establishment towards Palestine must be attributed to Dr Allan. He helped to ensure that Ireland would always lend a ready ear to the Palestinian case. He used to insist to friends that "the Irish and the Palestinians are one people speaking two languages".
He is survived by his wife, Jane, his mother, brother and sisters.
Dr Yousef Allan: born 1953; died, January 2001