Preserve the Roots

The picture that was used on the ID of Baseel Issa Ishaq. The date of this picture is unknown, but this is the oldest picture we have from Baseel. Baseel was most likely born in Beit Sahour about 1898. His father is Issa Salameh Ishaq and his mother is Nemeh Ibrahim Khoury.

Baseel attended a few classes at the Greek Orthodox school of Beit Sahour. He learned to read and write in Arabic and English. He also spoke some Greek.

He married "Labibeh Issa Hannoneh" about the year 1919 and had eight children (three daughters and five sons).

He served for several years in the British army, during the British mandate of Palestine.

He worked and lived with his family for several years in the village of Beit Umar (north of Hebron).

Baseel had a passion for technical work and liked to explore new machines. It is believed that he had the first car in Beit Sahour in the mid 1930s and also the first Radio.

Baseel died in Beit Sahour on 23 December 1973 and was buried in the Greek Orthodox cemetery in Beit Sahour.