Yasser Arafat

Date of Birth: August 24, 1929

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: November 11, 2004

Biography

Yasser Arafat, born Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini, was a Palestinian political leader and a symbol of the Palestinian national movement. Born on August 24, 1929, in Cairo, Egypt, Arafat was the fifth of seven children. He was a key figure in the struggle for Palestinian self-determination and became the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1969, a position he held until his death. Arafat’s early involvement in politics began at the University of King Fuad I (now Cairo University), where he studied civil engineering. He helped to found the Fatah political party in 1959, which later became the largest faction within the PLO. His leadership was marked by both armed struggle and diplomatic efforts to achieve a Palestinian state. Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 alongside Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin for his role in the Oslo Accords. Despite his controversial nature and the criticism he faced from various quarters, Arafat remained a pivotal figure in Middle Eastern politics. His legacy is complex, seen by some as a freedom fighter and by others as a terrorist. He passed away on November 11, 2004, in Clamart, France, under somewhat mysterious circumstances, which some speculate might have involved poisoning.

5 Interesting Facts about Yasser Arafat

1. Yasser Arafat wore a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh, which he draped in a way that it resembled the map of Palestine.

2. He survived several assassination attempts, including a plane crash in the Libyan Desert in 1992.

3. Arafat was exiled to Tunisia after the PLO was expelled from Lebanon in 1982.

4. He was known for his charismatic and often controversial public persona.

5. Arafat was married to Suha Arafat, and the couple had one daughter, Zahwa Arafat.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Yasser Arafat

1. “Whoever stands by a just cause cannot possibly be called a terrorist.”

2. “Peace is a process, you have to start somewhere.”

3. “The victory march will continue until the Palestinian flag flies in Jerusalem and in all of Palestine.”

4. “I come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter’s gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.”

5. “The Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and to establish an independent state.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Yasser Arafat’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 billion, although much of this was tied to the PLO’s assets and funds rather than personal wealth.