Abu (Abu, Abi)

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ABU (abu, abi)

Arab term meaning "father of." Many Arabs use this patronymic, which conveys respect, to indicate their status as the father of a first born or of their oldest son. To disguise their identity vis-à-vis the Israeli Security Services, Palestinians use this term to designate each other, even when the parties concerned are not fathers, as was the case with Yasir Arafat, called Abu Ammar.


SEE ALSO Arafat, Yasir.

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