Arafat, Yasser (1929–2004)

Yasser Arafat, born as Mohammed Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwar Al-Husseini, was a Nobel Prize– winning political leader as well as a guerrilla warfare soldier. Arafat's political career and personal life were riddled with controversy.

Born to Palestinian parents in Cairo, he was one of six children. Arafat was an active student leader who graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1956. Thereafter, he went on to serve in the Egyptian Army. His political career began with the formation of al-Fatah, the largest group in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). His main objective in forming the PLO was the liberation of Palestine from Israel.

Arafat's relationship with the media was complex. He used communications, such as speeches and leaflets, for generating propaganda as a recruiting tactic for ...