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Portrait of Salah Khalaf

Salah Khalaf

Founding member of Fatah, key PLO leader.

Born
1933
Born in
Jaffa, Palestine
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Why Salah is here

Salah Khalaf was a foundational member of the Fatah faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). His leadership and diplomatic skills significantly shaped the Palestinian resistance movement and the PLO's strategies.

Their story

Salah Khalaf, known as Abu Iyad (1933–1991), was born in Jaffa. In 1948 his family fled by sea to Gaza. As a student in Cairo he met Yasser Arafat, and the two were among the founders of Fatah.

He became the second most senior figure in Fatah and head of PLO intelligence, and told his story in the memoir My Home, My Land. He was assassinated in Tunis in January 1991 by a gunman from the Abu Nidal Organization.

In pictures

Milestones

The moments that shaped Salah’s path.

  1. 1948

    Family forced to exile to Gaza during Israeli’s occupation to their land.

  2. 1951

    Studied at the University of Cairo, where he met Yasser Arafat.

  3. Late 1950s

    Helped establish Fatah.

  4. 1972

    Allegedly involved in the Munich Olympics incident.

  5. 1988

    Became second in command of the PLO, endorsed peaceful coexistence with Israel.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Founding Fatah

    Integral in establishing and shaping the Fatah movement.

  2. Diplomacy

    Fostered relationships with regional governments and international entities.

  3. Security and Intelligence

    Innovatively managed PLO's intelligence apparatus.

  4. Support for Leftist Groups

    Protected and maintained ties with various Palestinian organizations.

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Further reading

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