Raymonda Tawil
Raymonda Hawa Tawil (Arabic: ريموندا حوا الطويل, born Raymonda Hawa in 1940) is a Palestinian writer and journalist and the mother of Suha Arafat. She was born in Acre into a prominent Palestinian Christian family and spent part of her childhood with French Catholic sisters.
Her public life began in Nablus, where she hosted an intellectual show and wrote bold, independent columns. She earned the nickname “The Lioness of Nablus.” In 1978 she opened a Palestinian news agency in Jerusalem. Because of her political work, she was placed under six months of house arrest by Israeli authorities and later jailed for 45 days during clashes with settlers.
She wrote about Palestine with Israeli journalist Peretz Kidron and became known for her Christian faith and her efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis, a stance that sometimes caused hostility. After narrowly escaping a targeted attack, she fled to France, and later Yasser Arafat married her daughter Suha.
In 1994 she returned to Gaza to participate in the creation of the Palestinian Authority and kept close ties with friends in France and Israel. By 2000 she lived in Ramallah near the PA headquarters, with an office beside Arafat, whom she saw often. The Israeli government restricted Arafat’s movement, with IDF tanks surrounding the Muqata and parts of PA towns reoccupied.
Raymonda Tawil lived with Arafat as a confidant for a time. From 2004 to 2007 she and Suha lived in Tunisia, but the family was expelled by Tunisian President Ben Ali in August 2007 and later found refuge in Malta. She wrote memoir-like accounts about her life, including reflections on the difficult moments in Palestine and the hope that sometimes returns despite the darkness.
Her works have appeared in French and English editions, reflecting her life and experiences.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 04:06 (CET).