Abdel Razak al-Yehiyeh
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2013) |
Abdel-Razak al-Yehiyeh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority | |
| In office June 2007 – May 2009 | |
| President | Mahmoud Abbas |
| Prime Minister | Salam Fayyad |
| Preceded by | Hani Talab al-Qawasmi |
| Succeeded by | Said Abu Ali |
| In office 15 June 2002 – Late 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Hani al-Hassan |
| Succeeded by | Nasser Yousef |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 March 1929 Tantura, British Mandate of Palestine |
| Died | 9 March 2020 (aged 90) |
| Children | 4 daughters and 1 son from his first marriage; 1 daughter and 1 son from his second marriage |
| Occupation | Politician, Military strategist, Author |
Abdel-Razak al-Yehiyeh or Abdul-Razzaq Al-Yahya (15 March 1929 – 9 March 2020)[1] born in Tantura, near Haifa, then in the British Mandate of Palestine,[2] also known as Abu Anas, was a Palestinian politician who served as Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority.
Al-Yehiyeh trained as a military strategist and served as chief operations officer and then deputy chief-of-staff of the PLA brigade in Syria before 1967.[2] In August 1968, he led an attempt to make PLA Syria brigades more independent of Syrian control, and was made PLA chief-of-staff by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Executive Committee. But with Syria opposed, he resigned to become military advisor to the PLO Executive Committee from 1969[3] and chief-of-staff of the Palestinian Armed Struggle Command (PASC) in February 1969.[citation needed]
He was reappointed to the PLA as commander-in-chief by the PLO Executive Committee in June 1969.[2] Then when Yasser Arafat took on that role in September 1970, al-Yehiyeh became chief-of-staff of all Palestinian forces.[2]
Due to Syrian pressure, he was replaced in 1971, becoming director of the PLO's political department from 1971 to 1976,[2] He was a member of the PLO Executive Committee from 1984 to 1991.[1] Al-Yehiyeh headed security committees in talks with Israel from 1993 to 1995,[4] including final status talks, and also headed negotiations on Hebron security arrangements and safe passage.[2]
He was appointed as Interior Minister of the Palestinian Authority in June 2002, charged with overhauling Palestinian security forces.[1][2][4] He was a member of the three-man delegation to Washington in August 2000.[citation needed] He was involved in security talks with Israel, and headed a centralized security apparatus for the Palestinian Authority.
Al-Yehiyeh left the PA cabinet in late 2002, feeling that Arafat had prevented him from making any significant reforms. He published his book Between militarism and politics in 2006,[5] and he was working on publishing a new book about peace negotiations between the Palestinian National Authority PNA and Israel.[citation needed]
He was appointed Interior Minister on 15 June 2007.[citation needed]
Personal life
[edit]From his first marriage, he had 4 daughters: Jomana, Lina, Roula and Rejwan. After the death of his first wife, he remarried and had a daughter Rana, and a son, Anas.[6][permanent dead link][better source needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c وفاة عبد الرزاق اليحيى وزير الداخلية الفلسطينية الأسبق. دنيا الوطن (in Arabic). 3 March 2020. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Al-YAHYA, ABDUL RAZEQ (1929-)". The Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs (PASSIA). Archived from the original on 13 April 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Luncheon Forum With General Abdel Razak Al-Yahya, Interior Minister of the Palestinian Authority" (PDF). Saban Center for Middle East Policy. Brookings Institution. Washington, DC. 8 August 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ a b "New Palestinian interior minister a retired military man". CNN. 10 June 2002. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ Al-Yahya, Abdul Razzaq (2006). عبد الرزاق اليحيى : بين العسكرية و السياسة : ذكريات [Abdul Razzaq Al-Yahya: Between Militarism and Politics (Memories)] (in Arabic). Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine: Palestinian Refugee and Diaspora Center (SHAML). ISBN 9789950315068. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Abdel Razal Al-Yehiyeh". www.celebsagewiki.com. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
Further reading
[edit]- "Abdul Razeq al-Yahya (1929 - )". Jewish Virtual Library. March 2004.
- Aikman, David; Muller, Henry (6 September 1982). "A Risky Royal Welcome". Time. Archived from the original on 15 October 2010.
- "New Palestinian interior minister a retired military man". CNN. Jerusalem. 10 June 2002.
- Sedan, Gil (7 June 2002). "Israel doubts Arafat will deliver on reform efforts". The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 16 March 2006.