Wasfi Tal | |
|---|---|
| وصفي التل | |
 Tal in 1962 | |
| 15th Prime Minister of Jordan | |
| In office 28 October 1970 – 28 November 1971 | |
| Monarch | Hussein |
| Preceded by | Ahmad Toukan |
| Succeeded by | Ahmad Lozi |
| In office 14 February 1965 – 4 March 1967 | |
| Monarch | Hussein |
| Preceded by | Bahjat Talhouni |
| Succeeded by | Hussein ibn Nasser |
| In office 28 January 1962 – 27 March 1963 | |
| Monarch | Hussein |
| Preceded by | Bahjat Talhouni |
| Succeeded by | Samir Al-Rifai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1920 Arapgir, Ottoman Empire |
| 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 | |
| Branch/service |  British Army Arab Liberation Army Syrian Arab Army Royal Jordanian Army |
| Years of service | 1940s–1971 |
| Rank | Captain (ALA) Major (Syria) |
| Battles/wars | |
Wasfi Tal (Arabic: وصفي التل; also known as Wasfi Tell; 1920 – 28 November 1971) was a Jordanian politician, statesman and military officer. 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 low bail by an Egyptian court and allowed to leave Egypt.[7]
- ^ Eric Pace (7 April 1971). "Man in the News". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lentz, Harris M. (4 February 2014). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Routledge. ISBN 9781134264902. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:4was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Slain Jordanian Angered Many Arabs". The New York Times. 29 November 1971. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ Grose, Peter (29 November 1971). "Bloody reprisals feared for slaying of premier". Eugene Register-Guard. Ramallah. Retrieved 15 December 2012.