23 Facts About Ali Kazak

Ali Kazak is the managing director of Southern Link International, a business, investment consultancy and public relations company.

Ali Kazak is the founder of the Australia-Arab Affairs Council and Palestine Publications a not for profit.

Ali Kazak is a member of the Fateh Advisory Council.

Ali Kazak grew up in Syria as a Palestinian refugee.

Ali Kazak did not see his father, who was living back in Haifa, for 48 years.

In 1968, while at Damascus University, Kazak was invited to join the Palestine National Liberation Movement and joined its political wing.

Ali Kazak was the publisher and editor of Background Briefing, the book The Jerusalem Question, which was translated into Portuguese and reprinted in Brazil, and the author of the book Australia and the Arabs in 2012, which was published by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, in Doha, Qatar.

Ali Kazak contributed a chapter in 'Israel's International Relations: Contexts, Tools, Success and Failures' published in Arabic by MADAR entitled 'Israel's Relations with Australia, New Zealand and the pacific region'.

Ali Kazak organised a number of Palestinian political and cultural exhibitions throughout Australia.

Ali Kazak was the founder and the driving force behind the establishment of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign on 30 May 1981 in a number of states in Australia and in New Zealand's major cities, and other Palestinian community groups.

In 1982 Kazak led a delegation to the Middle East, comprising parliamentarians, clergy, academics and journalists from both Australia and New Zealand.

Ali Kazak was the first Arab official to visit the South Pacific countries in 1985.

Ali Kazak has been received by consecutive heads of governments, prime ministers and foreign ministers in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.

Ali Kazak's efforts were crucial in gaining recognition by the Republic of Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor of the State of Palestine and the establishment of full diplomatic relations with these countries.

Ali Kazak presented his credentials as the non-resident Ambassador of Palestine to the Republic of Vanuatu on 19 October 1989 and to the Democratic Republic of East Timor on 2 March 2004.

Ali Kazak was awarded the 20th Anniversary of Independence Medal by the president of Vanuatu, Rev John Bani, on 30 July 2000, becoming the first Middle East ambassador to receive such an award throughout the Pacific and Australasian regions.

In May 1986 Kazak became the first person to call for adjudication by the Australian Press Council of untrue and stereotyped reporting of Palestinians by an Australian media outlet.

Ali Kazak has been invited to appear at the committee's public hearings.

Ali Kazak has addressed and represented Palestine at numerous national and international conferences and forums.

Ali Kazak was invited to speak at international forums such as the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research's symposium 'Australia and the Arab World' in 2009, and has written articles in the mainstream Australian and international media.

Ali Kazak has appeared on national and international television and radio programs.

Ali Kazak played a major role in obtaining the release of NZ hostages captured by the Iraqi army in Kuwait in 1990 and taken to Baghdad.

Ali Kazak was reunited with his father for the first time in 48 years.