Issam Sartawi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Issam Sartawi
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| Senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1935 Acre, Mandatory Palestine |
| Died | 10 April 1983 Albufeira, Portugal |
| Cause of death | Assassination by gunshot |
| Resting place | Amman, Jordan |
| Nationality | Palestinian |
| Political party | Fatah |
| Alma mater | University of Baghdad |
| Profession | Cardiologist, Politician |
Issam Sartawi (Arabic: عصام السرطاوي; 1935 – 10 April 1983) was an important leader in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). He was known for trying to find peaceful solutions to conflicts. Sadly, he was killed on April 10, 1983.
People remember him for his "moderate" views within the PLO. He often talked with Israeli leaders to try and find ways to make peace.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Issam Sartawi was born in Acre in 1935. In 1948, his family had to leave Palestine. They moved to Iraq.
He went to university in Baghdad to study medicine. Later, he became a heart doctor, also known as a cardiologist. He earned his medical degree in the United States.
Working for Peace and Politics
Sartawi returned to Palestine in 1967. He joined the Fatah movement, a big political group. He also helped start the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which is like the Red Cross.
He quickly became a trusted advisor to Yasser Arafat, who was the leader of the PLO. Sartawi advised him on matters in Europe and North America.
Peace Talks and Awards
In the mid-1970s, Sartawi took part in important meetings in Paris. He met with members of the Israeli Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace. These talks were supported by a former French leader, Pierre Mendès France.
In 1979, Sartawi and an Israeli negotiator named Aryeh "Lova" Eliav won an award. They received the Kreisky prize in Austria. This award was for their efforts to end the conflict between Arabs and Israelis.
An Israeli peace activist, Uri Avnery, wrote about these meetings. He said Sartawi believed that people who were against Jewish people were also against Palestinians.
Different Views on Peace
Sartawi had different ideas from Arafat about a peace plan in 1982. This plan suggested that Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza would govern themselves. After five years, they would talk about Israel leaving and creating a Palestinian-Jordanian state.
Sartawi thought the Palestinian National Council should accept the good parts of this plan. He felt they were not being realistic. He famously said, "Another victory like this and the PLO will find itself in the Fiji Islands." This meant that if they kept losing like they had in Lebanon, they would have nothing left.
Because of his different views, Sartawi offered to resign. However, Arafat refused to accept his resignation two times.
His Assassination
In February 1983, Sartawi was chosen to represent the PLO at a meeting in Portugal. This meeting was for the Socialist International, a group of socialist parties. It was hoped that this meeting could help bring peace to the Middle East.
A few months before he died, Sartawi gave a speech in England. During his speech, he recognized the state of Israel. This was a big step, as it went against the PLO's official position at the time.
The Tragic Event
On April 10, 1983, Sartawi was shot and killed. This happened in the lobby of a hotel in Albufeira, Portugal. The person who shot him escaped.
Later, a group called the Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) said they were responsible. Sartawi's death was seen as an attempt to stop peace efforts. The gunman was later arrested but was released from prison in 1986.
Sartawi's funeral was held in Amman. Many different groups from the PLO attended, showing how important he was.
Remembering Issam Sartawi
In 1998, a special center was created to honor Sartawi. It is called the Issam Sartawi Center for the Advancement of Peace and Democracy (ISCAPD). This center is located at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem.
In 1999, a writer from Portugal, André Neves Bento, wrote a book about Sartawi's assassination. He looked into the details of the event.
See also
- List of unsolved murders
