Yasser Arafat

Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat ( August 4 or August 24 , 1929 – November 11 , 2004 ), born Muhammad `Abd ar-Ra'uf al-Qudwa al-Husayni ( Arabic محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسيني) and also known as Abu `Ammar (ابو عمّار), was co-founder and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) ( 1969 – 2004 ); President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) ( 1993 – 2004 ); and a co-winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize . Arafat was a controversial and polarizing figure throughout his lengthy political career. While his supporters viewed him as a heroic freedom fighter who symbolized the national aspirations of the Palestinian people, his opponents often described him as an unrepentant terrorist with a long legacy of promoting violence. Still others accused him of political corruption , or being a weak leader who made too many concessions to the Israeli government during efforts to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .

Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini ( , 24 August 1929 – 11 November 2004), popularly known as Yasser Arafat ( ياسر عرفات ) or by his kunya Abu Ammar ( أبو عمار ), was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize . He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), and leader of the Fatah political party, which he founded in 1959. Arafat spent much of his life fighting against Israel in the name of Palestinian self-determination . Originally opposed to Israel's existence, he modified his position in 1988 when he accepted UN Security Council Resolution 242 . Arafat and his movement operated from several Arab countries. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Fatah faced off with Jordan in a brief civil war. Forced out of Jordan and into Lebanon , Arafat and Fatah were major targets of Israel's 1978 and 1982 invasions of that country. He was "revered by many Arabs," and the majority of the Palestinian people, regardless of political ideology or faction, viewed him as a freedom fighter who symbolized their national aspirations. However, he was "reviled by many Israelis" and described "in much of the West as the world's number one terrorist " for the attacks his faction led against civilians. Later in his career, Arafat engaged in a series of negotiations with the government of Israel to end the decades-long conflict between that country and the PLO. These included the Madrid Conference of 1991 , the 1993 Oslo Accords and the 2000 Camp David Summit . His political rivals, including Islamists and several PLO leftists , often denounced him for being corrupt or too submissive in his concessions to the Israeli government. In 1994, Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize , together with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres , for the negotiations at Oslo. During this time, Hamas and other militant organizations rose to power and shook the foundations of the authority that Fatah under Arafat had established in the Palestinian territories . In late 2004, after effectively being confined within his Ramallah compound for over two years by the Israeli army, Arafat became ill, fell into a coma and died on 11 November 2004 at the age of 75. While the exact cause of his death remains unknown and no autopsy was performed, his doctors spoke of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and cirrhosis . Yasser Arafat – NNDB Some sources use the term Chairman rather than President ; the Arabic word for both titles is the same. See President of the Palestinian National Authority for further information. From Defender to Dictator . Aburish says the date of Fatah's founding is unclear but claims in 1959 it was exposed by its magazine. Salah Khalaf and Khalil al-Wazir state Fatah’s first formal meeting was in October 1959. See Anat N.Kurz (2005) Fatah and the Politics of Violence: The Institutionalization of a Popular Struggle .

He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1969 to 2004 and President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) from 1994 to 2004. Ideologically an Arab nationalist , he was a founding member of the Fatah political party, which he led from 1959 until 2004. Arafat was born to Palestinian parents in Cairo , Egypt, where he spent most of his youth and studied at the University of King Fuad I . While a student, he embraced Arab nationalist and anti-Zionist ideas. Opposed to the 1948 creation of the State of Israel , he fought alongside the Muslim Brotherhood during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . Returning to Cairo, he served as president of the General Union of Palestinian Students from 1952 to 1956. In the latter part of the 1950s he co-founded Fatah, a paramilitary organisation seeking the disestablishment of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian state. Fatah operated within several Arab countries, from where it launched attacks on Israeli targets. In the latter part of the 1960s Arafat's profile grew; in 1967 he joined the PLO and in 1969 was elected chair of the Palestinian National Council (PNC). Fatah's growing presence in Jordan resulted in military clashes with King Hussein 's Jordanian government and in the early 1970s it relocated to Lebanon. There, Fatah assisted the Lebanese National Movement during the Lebanese Civil War and continued its attacks on Israel, resulting in it becoming a major target of Israel's 1978 and 1982 invasions. From 1983 to 1993, Arafat based himself in Tunisia, and began to shift his approach from open conflict with the Israelis to negotiation. In 1988, he acknowledged Israel's right to exist and sought a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . In 1994 he returned to Palestine, settling in Gaza City and promoting self-governance for the Palestinian territories . He engaged in a series of negotiations with the Israeli government to end the conflict between it and the PLO. These included the Madrid Conference of 1991 , the 1993 Oslo Accords and the 2000 Camp David Summit . In 1994 Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize , together with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres , for the negotiations at Oslo. At the time, Fatah's support among the Palestinians declined with the growth of Hamas and other militant rivals. In late 2004, after effectively being confined within his Ramallah compound for over two years by the Israeli army, Arafat fell into a coma and died. While the cause of Arafat's death has remained the subject of speculation, investigations by Russian and French teams determined no foul play was involved. Arafat remains a controversial figure. The majority of the Palestinian people view him as a heroic freedom fighter and martyr who symbolized the national aspirations of his people. Conversely, most Israelis came to regard him as an unrepentant terrorist, while Palestinian rivals, including Islamists and several PLO leftists , often denounced him for being corrupt or too submissive in his concessions to the Israeli government. The A to Z of the Arab-Israeli Conflict , P R. Kumaraswamy, page 26 "Yasser Arafat Mausoleum |" . Arafat, a Political Biography , Alan Hart, page 67 Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East & North Africa: A-C , Philip Mattar, page 269, quote: Arafat and his family have always insisted that he was born 4 August 1929. in his mother's family home in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, an Egyptian birth registration exists, suggesting that he was born in Egypt on 24 August 1929– His father had ... Some sources use the term Chairman , rather than President ; the Arabic word for both titles is the same. See President of the Palestinian National Authority for further information.

Palestinian political leader (1929–2004) "Yasir Arafat" redirects here. Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini (4 / 24 August 1929 – 11 November 2004), popularly known as Yasser Arafat ( / ˈ æ r ə f æ t / ARR -ə-fat , also US : / ˈ ɑːr ə f ɑː t / AR -ə- FAHT ; ‎; ) or by his kunya Abu Ammar ( ), was a Palestinian political leader. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1969 to 2004 and President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) from 1994 to 2004. Ideologically an Arab nationalist and a socialist , he was a founding member of the Fatah political party, which he led from 1959 until 2004. Arafat was born to Palestinian parents in Cairo , Egypt, where he spent most of his youth and studied at the University of King Fuad I . While a student, he embraced Arab nationalist and anti-Zionist ideas. Opposed to the 1948 creation of the State of Israel , he fought alongside the Muslim Brotherhood during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . Following the defeat of Arab forces, Arafat returned to Cairo and served as president of the General Union of Palestinian Students from 1952 to 1956. In the latter part of the 1950s, Arafat co-founded Fatah, a paramilitary organization seeking the removal of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian state. Fatah operated within several Arab countries, from where it launched attacks on Israeli targets. In the latter part of the 1960s Arafat's profile grew; in 1967 he joined the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and in 1969 was elected chair of the Palestinian National Council (PNC). Fatah's growing presence in Jordan resulted in military clashes with King Hussein 's Jordanian government and in the early 1970s it relocated to Lebanon. There, Fatah assisted the Lebanese National Movement during the Lebanese Civil War and continued its attacks on Israel, resulting in the organization becoming a major target of Israeli invasions during the 1978 South Lebanon conflict and 1982 Lebanon War . From 1983 to 1993, Arafat based himself in Tunisia, and began to shift his approach from open conflict with the Israelis to negotiation. In 1988, he acknowledged Israel's right to exist and sought a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . In 1994, he returned to Palestine, settling in Gaza City and promoting self-governance for the Palestinian territories . He engaged in a series of negotiations with the Israeli government to end the conflict between it and the PLO. These included the Madrid Conference of 1991 , the 1993 Oslo Accords and the 2000 Camp David Summit . The success of the negotiations in Oslo led to Arafat being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize , alongside Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres , in 1994. At the time, Fatah's support among the Palestinians declined with the growth of Hamas and other militant rivals. In late 2004, after effectively being confined within his Ramallah compound for over two years by the Israeli army, Arafat fell into a coma and died. While the cause of Arafat's death has remained the subject of speculation, investigations by Russian and French teams determined no foul play was involved. Arafat remains a controversial figure. Palestinians generally view him as a martyr who symbolized the national aspirations of his people. Israelis regarded him as a terrorist. Palestinian rivals, including Islamists and several PLO leftists , frequently denounced him as corrupt or too submissive in his concessions to the Israeli government. Personal Early life Compound Death conspiracy theories Suha Arafat (wife) Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman (1969–2004) PLO in Lebanon Pre-presidency War of Attrition Battle of Karameh Black September Insurgency in South Lebanon First Intifada Operation Wooden Leg Lebanese Civil War Battle of the Hotels Aishiyeh massacres Chekka massacre 1978 South Lebanon conflict Battle of Zahleh 1982 Lebanon War Battle of Tripoli War of the Camps Battle of Sidon 1st President of Palestine Israeli–Palestinian conflict Oslo Accords 2000 Camp David Summit Second Intifada Elections 1996 v t e Helena Cobban (before Yasser Arafat's marriage): "Yasser Arafat is not married, but is called 'Abu 'Ammar' as an inversion of the name of the heroic early Muslim warrior ' Ammar bin ('son of) Yasser . The A to Z of the Arab-Israeli Conflict . Arafat, a Political Biography . In Mattar, Philip (ed.). Arafat and his family have always insisted that he was born 4 August 1929. in his mother's family home in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, an Egyptian birth registration exists, suggesting that he was born in Egypt on 24 August 1929... Some sources use the term Chairman , rather than President ; the Arabic word for both titles is the same. See President of the Palestinian National Authority for further information.

President of Palestine from 1989 to 2004 "Yasir Arafat" redirects here. He was chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1969 to 2004, President of the State of Palestine from 1989 to 2004 and President of the Palestinian Authority (PNA) from 1994 to 2004. Ideologically an Arab nationalist and a socialist , Arafat was a founding member of the Fatah political party, which he led from 1959 until 2004. Arafat was born to Palestinian parents in Cairo , Egypt, where he spent most of his youth. He studied at the University of King Fuad I . While a student, he embraced Arab nationalist and anti-Zionist ideas. Opposed to the 1948 creation of the State of Israel , he fought alongside the Muslim Brotherhood during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . Following the defeat of Arab forces, Arafat returned to Cairo and served as president of the General Union of Palestinian Students from 1952 to 1956. In the latter part of the 1950s, Arafat co-founded Fatah, a paramilitary organization which sought Israel's replacement with a Palestinian state. Fatah operated within several Arab countries, from where it launched attacks on Israeli targets. In the latter part of the 1960s Arafat's profile grew; in 1967 he joined the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and in 1969 was elected chair of the Palestinian National Council (PNC). Fatah's growing presence in Jordan resulted in military clashes with King Hussein 's Jordanian government and in the early 1970s it relocated to Lebanon. There, Fatah assisted the Lebanese National Movement during the Lebanese Civil War and continued its attacks on Israel, resulting in the organization becoming a major target of Israeli invasions during the 1978 South Lebanon conflict and 1982 Lebanon War . From 1983 to 1993, Arafat based himself in Tunisia, and began to shift his approach from open conflict with the Israelis to negotiation. In 1988, he acknowledged Israel's right to exist and sought a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . In 1994, he returned to Palestine, settling in Gaza City and promoting self-governance for the Palestinian territories . He engaged in a series of negotiations with the Israeli government to end the conflict between it and the PLO. These included the Madrid Conference of 1991 , the 1993 Oslo Accords and the 2000 Camp David Summit . The success of the negotiations in Oslo led to Arafat being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize , alongside Israeli prime ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres , in 1994. At the time, Fatah's support among the Palestinians declined with the growth of Hamas and other militant rivals. In late 2004, after effectively being confined within his Ramallah compound for over two years by the Israeli army, Arafat fell into a coma and died. The cause of Arafat's death remains the subject of speculation. Investigations by Russian and French teams determined no foul play was involved, while a Swiss team determined he was radiologically poisoned . Arafat remains a controversial figure. Palestinians generally view him as a martyr who symbolized the national aspirations of his people, while many Israelis regarded him as a terrorist. Palestinian rivals, including Islamists and several PLO radicals , frequently denounced him as corrupt or too submissive in his concessions to the Israeli government. Helena Cobban (before Yasser Arafat's marriage): "Yasser Arafat is not married, but is called 'Abu 'Ammar' as an inversion of the name of the heroic early Muslim warrior ' Ammar bin ('son of) Yasser . Some sources use the term Chairman , rather than President ; the Arabic word for both titles is the same. See President of the Palestinian National Authority for further information. Palestinian Politics after Arafat: A Failed National Movement . The New York Times . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).