Wasfi Tal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wasfi Tal
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| وصفي التل | |
Tal in 1962
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| 15th Prime Minister of Jordan | |
| In office 28 October 1970 – 28 November 1971 |
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| Monarch | Hussein |
| Preceded by | Ahmad Toukan |
| Succeeded by | Ahmad Lozi |
| In office 14 February 1965 – 4 March 1967 |
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| Monarch | Hussein |
| Preceded by | Bahjat Talhouni |
| Succeeded by | Hussein ibn Nasser |
| In office 28 January 1962 – 27 March 1963 |
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| Monarch | Hussein |
| Preceded by | Bahjat Talhouni |
| Succeeded by | Samir Al-Rifai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1920 Arapgir, Turkey |
| Died | 28 November 1971 (aged 51) Cairo, Egypt |
| Spouse | Saida Al Jabari |
| Alma mater | American University of Beirut |
| Occupation | Military officer, diplomat |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  British Empire
 Jordan |
| Branch/service |  British Army Arab Liberation Liberation Army Syrian Arab Army Royal Jordanian Army |
| Rank | Captain (ALA) Major (Syria) |
| Battles/wars | 1948 Arab-Israeli War Black September |
Wasfi Tal (Arabic: وصفي التل; also known as Wasfi Tell; 1920 – 28 November 1971) was an important Jordanian politician, leader, and general. He served as the Prime Minister of Jordan three times. These terms were from 1962 to 1963, 1965 to 1967, and 1970 until his death in 1971.
Wasfi Tal was born in Arapgir, Turkey. His father was a famous Jordanian poet, Mustafa Wahbi Tal. His mother was Kurdish. He studied in Jordan and then at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. He joined the British Army in Mandatory Palestine and later the Arab Liberation Army. He fought against Israel in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Wasfi Tal believed in Arab unity and supported the Palestinian people.
After the war, he worked in the Jordanian government. He became more important as King Hussein noticed his skills. His first time as prime minister in 1962 was short. He resigned in 1963 because some people thought he was too pro-Western. He became prime minister again in 1965. During this time, Jordan's economy improved. He resigned just before the Six Day War in 1967. He was appointed prime minister a third time in 1970 during a conflict called Black September. This conflict led to the removal of Palestine Liberation Organization fighters from Jordan. Because of his role in this conflict, some PLO leaders were angry with him. He was killed by a group called the Black September Organization in Cairo, Egypt, in 1971.
Wasfi Tal was very loyal to King Hussein. Many Jordanians liked him because he successfully removed the fighters. However, many Arabs who supported the fighters did not like him.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Wasfi Tal was born in Arapgir, Turkey. His father was the well-known Jordanian poet Mustafa Wahbi Tal. His mother was Munifa Baban, who was Kurdish. There are different ideas about his exact birth year and place. Some say he was born in 1919 in Arapqir, while others say 1920. When he was five, he moved to Irbid, Transjordan, with his mother.
He went to elementary school in Jordan. In 1936, at age 16, he moved to Al-Salt. This was to attend the only public high school in Jordan at that time. As a student, he started a secret group called the "Black Hand." This group wanted to take stronger action against Zionism. He was arrested with other students after an incident at the mayor's house. Because of his family's influence, he was released quickly. He then finished his studies at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.
Military and Government Career
Wasfi Tal joined the British Army in Mandatory Palestine. He trained at a British military academy. Later, he joined the Arab Liberation Army, which was an unofficial army. He fought against Israel during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Because of his experience in the British army, he started as a captain. After the Arab Liberation Army was disbanded in 1948, his unit joined the Syrian army. He was promoted to major by May 1949.
After the war, he held different jobs in the Jordanian government. He moved up in his career because King Hussein noticed his skills. His first time as prime minister in 1962 was brief. He resigned in 1963 due to criticism that he favored Western views. He became prime minister again in 1965. This period saw good economic growth in Jordan. He resigned just before the Six Day War began in 1967.
He was appointed prime minister for a third time in 1970. This was during a conflict known as Black September. In this conflict, Palestine Liberation Organization fighters, also called fedayeen, were removed from Jordan. Because of his role, PLO leaders were very angry with him. He was killed by the Black September group outside a hotel in Cairo, Egypt. This happened while he was at an Arab League meeting. Ahmad Lozi became prime minister right after Tal's death.
Wasfi Tal believed that Arab countries should work together. He also supported the Palestinian people's fight for their homeland. The New York Times newspaper said he was disliked by extremists because he was a logical person who sought peaceful solutions with Israel.
Assassination
On November 28, 1971, four gunmen from the Black September group killed Wasfi Tal. This happened in the lobby of the Sheraton Cairo Hotel in Egypt. He was there for an Arab League meeting. The shooting occurred at 3:45 p.m. Cairo time. The Egyptian prosecutor, Gen. Muhammad Maher Hassan, stated the attackers were from a group called "the Black Hand of September." Wasfi Tal was 51 years old. Historian Patrick Seale wrote that one of the killers wanted to get revenge for his commander's death.
Wasfi Tal was the first person killed by the new Black September Organization. This group was a more extreme part of the Palestinian group Fatah. His killers were released on low bail and allowed to leave Egypt. Yasser Arafat, the leader of Fatah, later said his group was responsible for the killing.
Wasfi Tal was popular with Jordanians because he successfully removed the fedayeen. However, many Arabs who supported the fedayeen were very critical of him. Even Egyptian President Anwar Sadat reportedly disliked Tal. Wasfi Tal was the third important Jordanian political figure to be killed between 1951 and 1971. The first two were King Abdullah I and Prime Minister Hazza Majali. An Egyptian court found Tal's killers innocent and released them.
Wasfi Tal's body was flown back to Amman on November 28, 1971. He was buried in the royal cemetery after prayers at the Royal Mosque in Amman on November 29. There were reports that some Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank celebrated when they heard about Tal's death.
Personal Life
Wasfi Tal was married to Sadia Jabri. She had been married before to the Palestinian leader Musa Alami. Wasfi and Sadia did not have any children.
Awards and Recognition
Foreign Honour
- Malaysia:
Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN (K)) – Tun (1965)
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See also
- List of prime ministers of Jordan
- Palestinian political violence
- Mustafa Wahbi Tal
- Abdullah Tal
