Table of Contents
Why did Arafat change his first name to Ahmad?
The al-Husseini clan was based in Gaza and is not related to the well-known al-Husayni clan of Jerusalem. Since Arafat was raised in Cairo, the tradition of dropping the Mohammed or Ahmad portion of one’s first name was common; notable Egyptians such as Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak did so.
Was Yusef Arafat an Arab nationalist?
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.
What was the original name of Abdul Rahman?
His father was ‘Awf ibn ‘Abd-‘Awf and his mother was al-Shifaa bint ‘Awf. His original name was Abdu Amr (“servant of Amr”). It was Muhammad who renamed him ‘Abd al-Rahman (“servant of the Most Merciful”). It is also said that his original name was Abdul Kaaba.
What happened to Arafat?
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.
What did Arafat do in the 1960s?
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).
Who was Yusef Arafat’s wife?
In 1990, Arafat married Suha Tawil, a Palestinian Christian, when he was 61 and Suha, 27. Her mother introduced her to him in France, after which she worked as his secretary in Tunis. Prior to their marriage, Arafat adopted fifty Palestinian war orphans. During their marriage, Suha tried to leave Arafat on many occasions, but he forbade it.
When did Yusef Arafat join the PLO?
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.