February 2008

During the Islamic month of Ramadan, which coincided with September-October 2007, Arab audiences were gripped to their TV screens, watching the historical drama production, “King Farouk.” The life of the controversial last king of Egypt, his overthrow by the Free Officers in 1952, the majestic costumes, the palaces, the plot, and the grand work of the director Hatem Ali all contributed to making “King Farouk” a thundering success. One of the main reasons why “King Farouk” was so popular—and hauntingly realistic—was the memorable performance of its young star, Taim Hasan. Taim, who made it to fame at the turn of the 21st century, had already performed as Syria’s late poet Nizar Qabbani in 2005. He is now among the top ranked actors throughout the Arab World. Enigmatic, handsome, and highly talented, he played the role of Farouk, giving it so much passion to an extent where the image of Taim Hasan and King Farouk have become interchangeable in the minds of Arab viewers worldwide. Acting was never his primary goal, he said, having originally studied law in Syria. Fate, however, brought him to the Higher Academy of Theatrical Arts, where he studied for four years, and started his career in Syrian TV dramas. He does not think of directing at the present, he said, preferring to concentrate on good roles, and has not yet ventured into cinema. When speaking to FORWARD, the 32-year old star came across as a very polite, humble, and ordinary person—very different, in this sense, from the Egyptian King he played on screen. Let us start with “King Farouk.” The role of the last king of Egypt was certainly challenging and aroused a lot of controversy—and admiration—in the Arab World. How were you nominated to play the Egyptian monarch? The director is usually the one who chooses the actors and I was nominated for this role by Hatem Ali. We had worked together before and shared numerous successes; that is why he came to me.

The next day, she read in the papers that he had volunteered to fight in the Arab Liberation Army in Palestine, four months before the Arab states declared war on the newly created State of Israel. He left the family with no bread-provider, no money, or justification for his departure.

Khulud al-Halabi, a strong minded woman with charm and character, has been the Exclusive Agent and Country Manager for DHL Express-Syria, since 1992. After completing her MBA at EM Lyon in 1977, she worked for 15-years in Paris, irst at the Credit and Loan Department of Banque Libano-Française and later in the Middle East Division of BEFS Engineering. She also founded and managed a company named Logimed sarl, which does specialized market research in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

According to a spokesman from the defense ministry, Israel will allow the entrance of diesel fuel and medications into Gaza beginning Tuesday morning. It closed all border crossings between Israel and Gaza on Friday after days of rocket attacks on southern Israel.