Wasfi Tal

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Wasfi al-Tal
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Wasfi Tal
وصفي التل
Wasfi Tal in 1962
15th Prime Minister of Jordan
In office
28 October 1970 – 28 November 1971
MonarchHussein
Preceded byAhmad Toukan
Succeeded byAhmad Lozi
In office
14 February 1965 – 4 March 1967
MonarchHussein
Preceded byBahjat Talhouni
Succeeded byHussein ibn Nasser
In office
28 January 1962 – 27 March 1963
MonarchHussein
Preceded byBahjat Talhouni
Succeeded bySamir Al-Rifai
Personal details
Born19 January 1919
Natural Sciences
Military service
Allegiance British Empire

 Syrian Republic

 
Syrian Arab Army

 
1948 Arab-Israeli War

Black September

Wasfi Tal (

Prime Minister of Jordan
for three separate terms, 1962–63, 1965–67 and 1970 until his assassination in 1971.

Tal was born in Turkey to prominent Jordanian poet

Al-Salt, later continuing his education at the American University of Beirut in 1941. He then joined the British Army in Mandatory Palestine after being trained in a British-run military academy, and joined the irregular Arab Liberation Army to fight against Israel during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[1]

Following the war, he served various positions in the Jordanian government, rising to higher positions after his abilities captured

Six Day War in 1967. He was appointed again as prime minister in 1970 during Black September, the conflict which saw Palestine Liberation Organization fighters (fedayeen) expelled from Jordan. Earning the ire of PLO leaders for his role in the conflict, he was assassinated by the Black September Organization outside a Cairo hotel hosting an Arab League conference.[3]

Tal was reportedly loyal to

King Hussein and popular with Jordanians for his success in expelling the fedayeen. Meanwhile, he was widely denounced by Arabs who had supported the fedayeen.[4] His assassins were found innocent and released on bail by an Egyptian court.[5]

Early life and career

Wasfi Tal (right) with his father Mustafa Wahbi Tal during mid 1930s. His father is often described as Jordan's most prominent poet.

Tal was born in Arapgir to prominent poet

Al-Salt mayor's mansion. Due to his family influence and the fact no one was hurt in the bombing he was released a few days later and allowed to finish his education. Later continuing his education at the American University of Beirut
in 1941.

He then joined the British Army in Mandatory Palestine after being trained in a British-run military academy, and joined the irregular Arab Liberation Army to fight against Israel during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Due to his experience in the British army he started off with the rank of captain. After the Arab Liberation Army was dissolved in 1948 his unit was reassigned to the Syrian army for the remainder of the war under the new name Yarmuk Forces. By May 1949 he had risen to the rank of major.[6]

Following the war, he served various positions in the Jordanian government, rising to higher positions after his abilities captured

Black September group outside a Cairo hotel hosting an Arab League conference. Tal was succeeded by Ahmad Lozi as prime minister immediately after the incident.[7]

Assassination

Field marshal Habis Majali and Wasfi Tal

On 28 November 1971, four

Black September gunmen assassinated Tal in the lobby of the Sheraton Cairo Hotel in Egypt while he was attending an Arab League summit in the city.[8][9][10] Historian Patrick Seale claims that one of the assassins, Munshir al-Khalifa, was one of Abu Ali Iyad's soldiers who sought to avenge his commander's death.[10][11] As Tal lay dying, "one of the assassins knelt and lapped with his tongue the blood flowing across the marble floor."[12][13][14]

Tal was the first victim of the newly formed Black September Organization, a more militant offshoot of the Palestinian militant organization Fatah. His assassins were released on low bail and allowed to leave Egypt. Yasser Arafat, Fatah's leader, claimed responsibility for the killing.[8]

Tal was popular with Jordanians for his success in expelling the fedayeen. Meanwhile, he was widely denounced by Arabs who had supported the fedayeen. Egyptian President

Hazza Majali
. Tal's assassins were found innocent and released on bail by an Egyptian court.

Tal's body was flown back to

buried in the royal cemetery after the prayers in the Royal Mosque in Amman on 29 November.[15]

Personal life

Tal was married to Sadia Jabri, who had been former wife of the Palestinian leader of the 1940s, Musa Alami. They had no children.[16]

Honour

Foreign honour

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hussein's Premier". The New York Times. 7 April 1971. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  2. ISBN 9781134264902
    . Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  3. ^ Fallible Memory, Benny Morris
  4. ^ "Slain Jordanian Angered Many Arabs". The New York Times. 29 November 1971. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  5. ^ Grose, Peter (29 November 1971). "Bloody reprisals feared for slaying of premier". Eugene Register-Guard. Ramallah. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  6. ^ Susser, A. (2017). On both banks of the Jordan: a political biography of Wasfi al-Tall (Vol. 2). Routledge.
  7. ^ Fouad El Gawhary (30 November 1971). "Cairo assassin says he drank the blood of dying Premier". The Times. No. 58338. Cairo. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  8. ^
    ISBN 9780674768031
    .
  9. ISBN 9780313281129
    .
  10. ^ a b Amos, 1980, p.222.
  11. ^ Seale, 1982, p.81.
  12. ^ Bruce Hoffman (December 2001). "All you need is love: How the terrorists stopped terrorism". The Atlantic.
  13. ^ Shair, Kamal A. (2006). Out of the Middle East: the emergence of an Arab global business. p. 240.[permanent dead link]
  14. ISSN 0028-6583
    . Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Avange Rebel's Death". The Deseret News. Caito. United Press International. 29 November 1971. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Wasfi Tel was bitter enemy of guerrillas". Gadsden Times. 29 November 1971. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1965" (PDF).

Bibliography

Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Jordan
1962–1963 		Succeeded by
Samir al-Rifai
Preceded by
Bahjat Talhouni
 Prime Minister of Jordan
1965–1967 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Jordan
1970–1971 		Succeeded by
Ahmad al-Lawzi
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