Sir Joshua Abraham Hassan: The First Chief Minister of Gibraltar

Biography

Hassan was born into a Jewish family that had lived in Gibraltar for approximately 300 years, originally hailing from Morocco and Minorca. He qualified as a barrister, and the law firm he established continues to operate today.

He led the party for the advancement of citizens in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar and served as its Chief Minister for two non-consecutive terms (1964–1969 and 1972–1987). In total, he won ten elections, making him one of Gibraltar's most influential political figures and a prominent politician in the latter half of the 20th century on the peninsula.

In 1969, he led the conflict between Gibraltar and neighboring Spain, then under the leadership of Francisco Franco. Spain closed its border with Gibraltar in an attempt to exert economic pressure.

Hassan also chaired the Neveh Shalom Synagogue's board while serving as Chief Minister.

His daughter, Fabian Picardo, immigrated to Israel and has been a member of Jerusalem City Council for the "Yerushalmim" party since 2016. In the 2018 municipal elections, she was re-elected to the City Council representing the "Jerusalem Will Succeed" faction, serving as Deputy Mayor under Moshe Leon.

His daughter, Marlene Hassan-Nahon, was elected to the Gibraltar Parliament in 2015 and again in 2019.

In 2008, his cousin Solomon Levy served as the Mayor of Gibraltar for one year.