Shlomo Argov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shlomo Argov
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| שלמה ארגוב | |
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| Born | 14 December 1929 |
| Died | 23 February 2003 (aged 73) Jerusalem
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| Nationality | Israeli |
| Alma mater | Georgetown University |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Years active | 1959–1982 |
Shlomo Argov (Hebrew: שלמה ארגוב; born December 14, 1929 – died February 23, 2003) was an important Israeli diplomat. He served as Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom. An attack on his life led to the start of the 1982 Lebanon War.
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Early Life and Education
Shlomo Argov was born in Jerusalem in 1929. His family had lived in Jerusalem for many generations. As a teenager, he joined the Palmach, which was a special fighting group of the Haganah.
During the 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine, he was hurt in a battle in Safed. When Israel became a country and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War began, Argov joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
In 1950, he finished his military service. He then went to the United States to study. He earned a degree from Georgetown University in 1952. While studying, he worked part-time at the Israeli Embassy. There, he met his future wife, Hava. Later, he studied in the United Kingdom and received a master's degree from the London School of Economics in 1955.
Diplomatic Career
After his studies, Argov returned to Israel. He worked for several years in the Prime Minister's Office under David Ben-Gurion.
In 1959, Argov joined the Israeli Foreign Ministry. He became the consul-general in Lagos, Nigeria. In 1960, he became an ambassador there. He later moved to the Israeli Embassy in Ghana. In 1962, he worked at the Israeli consulate in New York City.
In 1965, he became a Deputy-Director at the Foreign Ministry. He was then sent to the Israeli Embassy in Washington in 1968. From 1971 to 1974, he was the ambassador to Mexico. When he returned to Jerusalem, he became a Deputy Director-General for Information. In 1977, he was appointed ambassador to the Netherlands, serving until 1979.
In September 1979, Prime Minister Menachem Begin appointed him ambassador to the United Kingdom. During his three years in this role, he strongly presented Israel's views. He was well-liked by British Jews and often visited Jewish communities.
Family Life
Shlomo Argov had three children with his wife, Hava: a son named Gideon, and two daughters, Yehudit and Edna. His wife, Hava, passed away in May 2002.
Attack on His Life
On June 3, 1982, three men attacked Shlomo Argov. This happened as he was getting into his car after a dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London. One of the men, Hussein Ghassan Said, shot Argov in the head. Argov was not killed, but he was very seriously hurt.
He was quickly taken to a hospital and had emergency brain surgery. He remained in a coma for three months.
The attackers were part of Abu Nidal's group. This was a Palestinian group that was against the PLO. The attack was ordered by the Iraqi Intelligence Service. After the attack, the gunmen went to the Iraqi embassy in London and left the weapon there.
The attackers were caught and sent to prison for 30 to 35 years.
Impact of the Attack
The attack on Shlomo Argov's life led Israel to invade Lebanon two days later. The goal was to remove Palestinian fighter bases. The Iraqi government had planned this, hoping an Israeli war in Lebanon would harm the Syrian government. Israel invaded Lebanon on June 6. The war led to the Palestine Liberation Organization leaving Lebanon. It is important to note that Argov's attackers were not part of the PLO.
Later Years and Death
After being in a coma for three months, Argov woke up. He was then moved back to Israel. He became a permanent patient in the rehabilitation ward at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
Even though he could not move, he was still able to think clearly. People would read newspaper headlines to him. He became very sad when he understood how serious his condition was. After about three years, he was never fully conscious, and he eventually lost his eyesight.
Argov was deeply upset that the attack on him had caused the Lebanon war. In 1983, he shared a statement from his hospital bed. He said that if those who planned the war had known how big it would become, they would have saved many lives. He believed Israel should only go to war when there is no other choice. He said the nation was tired of wars and wanted peace.
Shlomo Argov died at Hadassah Hospital in 2003. He was 73 years old. He died from the injuries he received in the attack. He had been paralyzed and in hospital care for 21 years.
See also
In Spanish: Shlomo Argov para niños
