Sursock family

Sursock is a Greek Orthodox, Lebanese family and one of Beirut's aristocratic families. The Sursock family made their money as traders. [http://www.rosegeorge.com/frameworks/generic/public_users/morearticles.asp?ArticleID=51] The Sursocks were also landowners and for many decades Lebanon's leading business family, joining forces with the Otis Elevator Company to manufacture elevators. [ [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197403/made.in-lebanon.htm Saudi Aramco World : Made In: Lebanon ] ] Rue Sursock in the Achrafieh district in Beirut is named after the family, which owned many palatial homes on the street, such as the Sursock House.

20th century land controversy

In addition to owning land in Lebanon, the Sursock family owned more than 60,000 acres (240 km²) the in the Vale of Esdraelon, the Jezreel Valley, in Palestine. The land encompassed 13 villages in the Emek. [ [http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/99818751a6a4c9c6852560690077ef61/f8467bb39088ead085256e9900513cc2!OpenDocument A/364/Add.2 PV.33 of 16 July 1947 ] ] It is believed that the Sursock family sold the land in Palestine for nearly three quarters of a million pound to the Jewish National Fund in 1906. [fr icon [http://www.1stlebanon.net/lebanon-news/news.php?idactu=825&debut=0 Beirut how you've changed ... or have you? ] ] Jewish settlers would displace the Arab tenants of the villages. Arabs have always regarded the Jezreel Valley as the most fertile region in Palestine. [ [http://www.mideastweb.org/hopesimpson.htm MidEastWeb The Report of Sir John Hope Simpson, 1930 ] ] Palestinians today still resent the sale by the absentee Sursock family which caused several thousand farmers to be evicted from the lands they occupied for generations. [ [http://www.couragetorefuse.org/English/discussion/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=982&PN=0&TPN=10 פורום אומץ לסרב: The Palestinians and Balfour ] ]

Notable members of the Sursock family

*Lady Cochrane Sursock
*Nicolas Sursock
*Cici Sursock
* [Nicha N Sursock]

References