Yasser Arafat (1929–2004) was a Palestinian political leader central to the struggle for self-determination. Revered by many Palestinians as the father of their national movement, he is viewed by others as a leader who employed violence and obstructed peace.
Born in Cairo, Egypt, he studied civil engineering at King Fuad I University (later Cairo University) and became involved in nationalist movements. In 1959, he co-founded Fatah, a paramilitary group advocating Palestinian independence. By 1969, he became chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO,) transforming it into a dominant political force. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Arafat navigated conflicts with Israel, neighboring Arab states, and internal Palestinian factions.
He played a pivotal role in the Oslo Accords (1993,) which led to mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO. In 1994, he received the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Israeli leaders Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres for their peace efforts. Elected the first President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 1996, he governed parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
Arafat authored Revolution Until Victory (1970,) outlining his vision for Palestinian liberation, and Palestine: A Strategy for Liberation (1988,) detailing his political approach.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Yasser Arafat
Choose your friends carefully. Your enemies will choose you.
—Yasser Arafat
Topics: Enemy
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