Yasser Arafat

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Yasser Arafat in 1942

Arafat in Jordan

Nasser brokering ceasefire with Chairman Arafat and King Hussein

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Bundesarchiv Bild 183-K1102-032, Berlin, Brandenburger Tor, Yasser Arafat

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Bhim Singh and Yasser Arafat in Syria

Arafat in Lebanon

Yasser Arafat (24 August 1929 – 11 November 2004) was a Palestinian political leader and a founding member of the Fatah movement, which aimed at the liberation of Palestine. He served as Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1969 until his death in 2004, and as President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) from 1994 to 2004. Arafat was a controversial and complex figure, viewed by some as a freedom fighter and by others as a terrorist due to his involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Early Life

Yasser Arafat was born in Cairo, Egypt, but he always claimed Jerusalem as his birthplace to strengthen his Palestinian identity. His early life was marked by the Nakba, the exodus of Palestinians following the establishment of Israel in 1948. Arafat studied civil engineering at the University of Cairo and became involved in Palestinian politics during his time as a student.

Political Career

Arafat's political career began in earnest when he co-founded Fatah in 1959, a movement that sought the establishment of a Palestinian state. Initially, Fatah operated from Kuwait and later from Jordan, launching raids into Israeli territory. Arafat's leadership came to prominence after the 1967 Six-Day War, when he became the face of the Palestinian struggle.

In 1969, Arafat was elected Chairman of the PLO, an umbrella organization for Palestinian resistance groups. Under his leadership, the PLO adopted both diplomatic and militant strategies. Arafat's tenure was marked by numerous conflicts, including the Black September in Jordan and the Lebanese Civil War. Despite these challenges, he succeeded in gaining international recognition for the PLO and the Palestinian cause.

Oslo Accords

A significant turning point in Arafat's career and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993. Arafat engaged in secret negotiations with Israel, which culminated in mutual recognition between the PLO and Israel. The Oslo Accords established the Palestinian National Authority, granting limited self-governance to Palestinians in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Arafat returned to Palestinian territories in 1994 to lead the PNA, marking the first time in decades that he lived among the people he represented.

Death and Legacy

Arafat's later years were marred by the collapse of the peace process and the outbreak of the Second Intifada. His leadership was also criticized for corruption and inefficiency. In 2004, Arafat fell ill and was transported to France for treatment, where he died on 11 November. The cause of his death remains controversial, with allegations of poisoning.

Arafat's legacy is mixed. He is revered by many Palestinians as a symbol of their national struggle, while others criticize his leadership and tactics. Internationally, he is remembered both for his role in promoting the Palestinian cause and for the controversies that surrounded his methods.

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