Wasfi al-Tal

Wasfi al-Tal was born in Arabkir to the celebrated Jordanian national poet Mustafa Wahbi al-Tal (Arar) and a Kurdish mother. Educated in chemistry and biology at the American University of Beirut, he served in the British Army during World War II and commanded an Arab irregular battalion during the 1948 war.

Tal served three times as Prime Minister of Jordan (1962-1963, 1965-1967, and 1970-1971). A charismatic, hands-on nationalist who personally directed state reforestation, water canals, and rural development, he restored central governmental authority during the 1970 Black September crisis. He was assassinated in Cairo while attending an Arab League summit in November 1971.