The Arab Society was established in Jerusalem in 1982 by individuals with mobility disabilities. It was officially registered for the first time with the Ministry of Social Development in Jordan under the name 'The Arab Association for Physically Disabled.' Its actual activities began at that time from its headquarters located in Jerusalem – Ibn Battuta Street, with the participation of several Jerusalemite figures from various fields who joined the association and its successive boards of directors, contributing a great deal of their expertise and relationships
At that time, the society worked on providing a space and environment where individuals with mobility and visual disabilities could gather to discuss and address several issues and challenges related to them, and to find solutions in the absence of any official national entities that care for and support the disability sector in Jerusalem. Additionally, the association carried out social and cultural activities aimed at integrating people with disabilities into their community.
In 2010, the Arab Society was registered with the Ministry of Interior in the Palestinian National Authority and continued its work from its second – current – headquarters located on Ali Bin Abi Talib Street. It has managed to maintain its presence in the city despite the challenges and difficulties and chose to register itself with the Association Registrar at the Ministry of Justice in Jerusalem to remain steadfast, believing in the importance of meeting the needs of people with disabilities in East Jerusalem and the Jerusalemite community in general.
In 2017, the Arab Society was registered with the Association Registrar at the Ministry of Justice – Jerusalem to preserve its existence and to prevent any actions that may threaten its presence in Jerusalem, similar to other Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem.
The late Dr. Abdullah Said Sabri
A group of national Jerusalemite figures have successively managed the Arab Society and served as members of its Board of Directors, contributing to its development and its ability to provide the best possible services to the Jerusalemite community and Palestinian areas. The late Dr. Abdullah Said Sabri chaired the Board of Directors of the association for many years until his passing in 2022. During his tenure as president, he also held the position of Vice President of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and President of the Red Crescent Society in Jerusalem.
Some of the prominent former members of the Board of Directors include Engineer Mustafa Abu Zahra (Abu Al-Amin), Mahmoud Abu Lafi, Adnan Al-Husseini, and the late Hassan Tahboub.
Since its establishment, the late Akram Ali Akka was appointed as the director of the society until his death in 2013. The late Akka suffered from a mobility disability due to polio, and he graduated from Birzeit University. He played an active role in developing the association, managing it, and implementing various programs and activities that reached the Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He was also a social activist, chaired the Palestinian Paralympic Committee (sports for people with disabilities), and represented Palestine in many Arab, regional, and international forums.
The late Akram Akka
Founders of the Society
The Arab Society was founded by a group of individuals with mobility or visual disabilities.
- Mohammad Sab Laban
- Yasser Al-Terhi
- Fares Al-Rajabi
- Akram Akka
- Yousef Mohisen
- Osama Yaghmour
- Mohammad Hamed
- Samir Najib
- Kamal Abdel Qader
- Salah Abu Jibneh
