Wasfi Tal

Wasfi Tal
وصفي التل
Tal in 1962
15th Prime Minister of Jordan
In office
28 October 1970 – 28 November 1971
MonarchHussein
Preceded byAhmad Toukan
Succeeded byAhmad Lozi
In office
14 February 1965 – 4 March 1967
MonarchHussein
Preceded byBahjat Talhouni
Succeeded byHussein ibn Nasser
In office
28 January 1962 – 27 March 1963
MonarchHussein
Preceded byBahjat Talhouni
Succeeded bySamir Al-Rifai
Personal details
Born1920
Arapgir, Turkey
Died28 November 1971 (aged 51)
Cairo, Egypt
SpouseSaida Al Jabari
Alma materAmerican University of Beirut
OccupationMilitary officer, diplomat
Military service
Allegiance British Empire

 Syrian Republic

 Jordan
Branch/service British Army
Arab Liberation Army
 Syrian Arab Army
 Royal Jordanian Army
RankCaptain (ALA)
Major (Syria)
Battles/wars1948 Arab-Israeli War
Black September

Wasfi Tal (Arabic: وصفي التل; also known as Wasfi Tell; 1920 – 28 November 1971) was a Jordanian politician, statesman and general. He served as the 15th Prime Minister of Jordan for three separate terms, 1962–63, 1965–67 and 1970 until his assassination in 1971.

Tal was born in Arapgir, Turkey to prominent Jordanian poet Mustafa Wahbi Tal and a Kurdish mother. He received his elementary education in Jordan, later continuing his education at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. He then joined the British Army in Mandatory Palestine after being trained in a British-run military academy, and joined the irregular Arab Liberation Army to fight against Israel during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[1] As an Arab nationalist, Tal was known for his belief in collective Arab action and supported the Palestinian struggle.[2][3]

Following the war, he served various positions in the Jordanian government, rising to higher positions after his abilities captured King Hussein's attention. His first tenure as prime minister in 1962 was short-lived, he resigned in 1963 over widespread criticism of his perceived pro-Western views.[4] He was appointed prime minister again in 1965, which saw an improved climate of economic activity, but resigned just before the onset of the Six Day War in 1967. He was appointed again as prime minister in 1970 during Black September, the conflict which saw Palestine Liberation Organization fighters (fedayeen) expelled from Jordan. Earning the ire of PLO leaders for his role in the conflict, he was assassinated by the Black September Organization outside a Cairo hotel hosting an Arab League conference.[5]

Tal was reportedly loyal to King Hussein and popular with Jordanians for his success in expelling the fedayeen. Meanwhile, he was widely denounced by Arabs who had supported the fedayeen.[6] His assassins were found innocent and released on bail by an Egyptian court.[7]

  1. ^ Times, Eric Pace Special to The New York (7 April 1971). "Man in the News". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Lentz, Harris M. (4 February 2014). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Routledge. ISBN 9781134264902. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Slain Jordanian Angered Many Arabs". The New York Times. 29 November 1971. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  7. ^ Grose, Peter (29 November 1971). "Bloody reprisals feared for slaying of premier". Eugene Register-Guard. Ramallah. Retrieved 15 December 2012.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search