Key Figures of Palestinian Politics

 Ariel Sharon/ Unit 101

 Unit 101 was a special forces unit of the IDF. Led and founded by Ariel Sharon (who later became PM), they organized numerous deadly massacres during the War of Attrition ⇒ Burayj and Qibia massacres against Palestinians and Egyptians. 

Baruch Goldstein

Jewish American terrorist who murdered 29 Palestinians at the Ibrahimi mosque. Served as a physician in the IDF and refused to treat Arab patients. Literally from Brooklyn. Embraced Jewish fundamentalism. 

 Golda Meir

Israeli liberal PM. Settler from Poland, US ⇒ Goldie Mabovitch = Goldie Myerson (settled on a kibbutz). Violently zionist. She was PM during the 1973 war and weighed the possibility of using nuclear weapons against Egypt and Syria. 

King Hossein

King of Jordan. Un peu un traitre lol. He became King at a young age and was chosen to be a puppet. He was a staunch supporter of the Jordanizzation of all sectors of the country. Close ties with Israel. Warns Israel about Egypt and Syria’s surprise attacks in the 1973 war but they don’t believe him. 

Leila Khaled

Palestinian militant who became the face behind the Palestinian struggle. She orchestrated some plane hijackings. Member of the PFLP. She hijacked TWA Flight 840.

Menachem Begin

Israeli PM + murderer ⇒ Nobel Peace Prize with Sadat for role in Camp 

David Accords. Terrorist in charge of militia, terrorist group Irgun. Right Wing. Deir Yassin Massacre April 1948 ⇒ exemplifies ethnic cleansing of Nakba 

Gamal Abdel Nasser

President of Egypt (1954 till death) who overthrew the King. Leader of Pan Arabism movement and staunch supporter of Palestine. He did not grant Egyptian citizenship to Palestinian refugees… He provided healthcare, education, welfare state benefits to the Gazans. Paid for salaries. 1956 crisis. He decided to resign after the 1967 war ⇒ egyptians wanted him back 

Anwar El Sadat

 President of Egypt who normalized diplomatic relations with Israel during the Camp David Accords after the 1973 war. He claimed it to be a victory because he was fighting the US and not Israel. Closed off Gaza from Egypt, amplified occupation. 

Yasser Arafat

Palestinian leader of the PLO. He was the founder of Fateh and became an emblem for the Palestinian struggle. 

 Rabbi Kook Jr

Jewish fundamentalist…Orthodox rabbi and one of the fathers of religious Zionism 

George Habash

Palestinian nationalist and leftist that foudned the PFLP

Khalil Al-Wazir

 Was seen by Israel as the person in the PLO responsible for supporting the Palestinian uprising in the OTs. Was assassinated by Israeli commanders in his home in Tunisia. His assassination was an instance of Israeli aggression on yet another Arab nation in violation of international law. 

Rashad al-Shawa

 Head of municipal council (mayor) of Gaza from 1971-1982.