Muhammad Zaidan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muhammad Zaidan
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| Born |
Muhammad Zaidan
10 December 1948 Yarmouk Camp
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| Died | 8 March 2004 (aged 55) Iraq?
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| Resting place | Damascus, Syria |
| Other names | Abū-‘Abbās or Muhammad ‘Abbās |
| Known for | Founder and Leader of Palestine Liberation Front |
Muhammad Zaidan (born December 10, 1948 – died March 8, 2004), also known as Abu Abbas, was an important figure in Palestinian politics. He helped start a group called the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF).
Contents
Early Life and Political Beginnings
Muhammad Zaidan was born in 1948. Some reports say he was born in Safed, Palestine. Others say he was born in a refugee camp in Syria.
He went to Damascus University. There, in 1968, he joined a group called the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC). This group was known for its strong views and was supported by Syria.
Forming the PLF
In 1977, Zaidan had disagreements with the PFLP-GC. He did not agree with Syria's involvement in the war in Lebanon. So, he left the group. He then created the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) with Talaat Yaacoub.
The PLF later split into three different parts. Zaidan's part was the biggest. It moved its main office to Tunisia.
Leading the Palestine Liberation Front
Since it began in 1977, the PLF, led by Abu Abbas, was part of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). It received support from the PLO and Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.
Unlike some other groups, the PLF under Zaidan supported peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. In 1984, Zaidan was chosen to be on the PLO's Executive Committee. He also represented the Palestinian National Council in peace talks with Israel in 1989.
Involvement in Conflicts
Zaidan was wanted by Israel for his role in armed attacks against Israel. These attacks sometimes targeted civilians during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Despite this, Israel allowed him to travel freely in the Gaza Strip in the 1990s. This was because he supported the peace negotiations.
One sad event linked to the PLF under Zaidan's leadership happened in April 1979. A family in Nahariya, Israel, was attacked. Danny Haran, age 28, and his two young daughters, Einat (4) and Yael (2), were killed.
The Achille Lauro Hijacking
During the 1980s, the PLF carried out attacks in northern Israel. These attacks crossed the border from Lebanon. In 1985, Abu Abbas planned the hijacking of an Italian cruise ship called the Achille Lauro.
Events on the Ship
During the hijacking, a 69-year-old American passenger named Leon Klinghoffer was tragically killed. He used a wheelchair. His body was thrown overboard.
The hijackers later gave up to Egypt. They were promised safe passage out of Egypt. They claimed they had not harmed any passengers.
Capture and Escape
However, four U.S. F-14 planes stopped the aircraft carrying the hijackers. This plane was headed to Tunisia. The U.S. planes escorted it to Sigonella, a NATO base in Italy. There, it was discovered that Zaidan was also on the plane.
Due to some deals within the Italian government, Zaidan was flown from Sigonella to Rome. From Rome, Zaidan boarded a civilian plane to Belgrade, Yugoslavia. The United States asked Yugoslavia to send Zaidan back, but they did not. This was because Yugoslavia had good relations with the PLO.
Zaidan then flew to Aden, South Yemen, and from there to Baghdad. In Baghdad, Saddam Hussein protected him. Zaidan stayed in Iraq and led the PLF until the American invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Italy had found Zaidan guilty in his absence for his part in the Achille Lauro hijacking. He was also wanted in the U.S. for his role in the attack. In 1996, he said he was sorry for the Achille Lauro hijacking and the death of Leon Klinghoffer. He also spoke in favor of peace talks between Palestinians and Israel. However, the U.S. government and Klinghoffer's family did not accept his apology.
Death in Custody
On April 14, 2003, American Special Forces captured Muhammad Zaidan in Iraq. He was trying to escape from Baghdad to Syria. Italy then asked for him to be sent to them.
On March 9, 2004, The Pentagon announced that Zaidan had died the day before. They stated he died of natural causes while being held by the U.S. The PLF, however, claimed the Americans had killed their leader.
U.S. authorities agreed to give Zaidan's body to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The plan was to bury him in Ramallah on the West Bank. But Israeli authorities stopped this burial. Instead, he was buried in the Martyrs' Cemetery in Damascus, Syria.
