Wasfi al-Tal

Wasfi al-Tal 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. He was born in Turkey to prominent Jordanian poet Mustafa Wahbi Tal and moved to Jordan when he was five. He received his education in Al-Salt and the American University of Beirut. He joined the British Army in Mandatory Palestine and later the Arab Liberation Army to fight against Israel during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. He then served various positions in the Jordanian government, rising to higher ranks 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. 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 expelled from Jordan. He was assassinated by the Black September Organization outside a Cairo hotel hosting an Arab League conference. He 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. His assassins were found innocent and released on bail by an Egyptian court.