Yasir Arafat - biography.

Yasir Arafat - biography. Palestinian nationalist leader Birth August 1929 Death November 11, 2004 Place of Egypt or Jerusalem Birth Political Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Party Official Title Chairman of PLO, President of Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Terms 1966- President of the PNA 1969- Chairman of the PLO Known For Leading the struggle for Palestinian statehood Sharing the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres Milestones Early 1960s Helped found Fatah, an organization that used guerilla tactics to oppose Israel 1968 Established Fatah within the PLO February, 1969 Became Chairman of the PLO 1970s Oversaw PLO operations from the base in Lebanon 1974 Gained international prestige when the PLO was recognized by the Arab League as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people 1982 Fled to Tunis, Tunisia, after the invasion of Lebanon by Israel 1988 Renounced military opposition to Israel, opening the way to peace negotiations September 13, 1993 Signed a peace agreement with Israel, establishing diplomatic channels for further negotiations January 1996 Was elected president of the PA Did You Though Arafat began his career as a militant guerilla leader, he has relied increasingly on diplomacy since in the late 1980s, and is known Know for adapting his tactics to changing situations. In 1974 Arafat addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations with a pistol strapped to his belt. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.