The first chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization served from 1964 until 1968, marking a transition point in the political mobilization of Palestinian Arabs. A diplomat and lawyer by training, he operated across the shifting borders of the Ottoman Empire, Mandatory Palestine, and Jordan throughout his career.
Early Legal and Political Work
Born in 1908 in Tebnine, Lebanon, Ahmad Shukeiri received his education at the Al-Fadiliya School and the Institute of Law in Palestine. He joined the Independence Party, known as Istiqlal, while building a legal practice in British Palestine. By 1945, he relocated to Washington, D.C., to organize a Palestinian office before joining the Arab Higher Committee in 1946.
International Diplomatic Service
Shukeiri held several influential international posts before leading the PLO. He served as a member of the Syrian delegation to the United Nations from 1949 to 1951, followed by a tenure as assistant Secretary General for the Arab League between 1950 and 1956. Subsequently, he represented Saudi Arabia at the United Nations from 1957 to 1962.
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In 1963, the Arab League appointed him as the representative for Palestine. He became the inaugural Chairman of the PLO in May 1964 with the support of Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. During his leadership, the organization established a military wing, the Palestine Liberation Army, and secured its first arms agreement with China in 1965.
Public Controversy and Resignation
During the period preceding the Six-Day War, public remarks regarding the future of the region and the Jewish population brought intense criticism. Following the war, internal and external pressure mounted, and he resigned his chairmanship in December 1967. He was succeeded by Yahya Hammuda.
Final Years
Following his resignation, Shukeiri dedicated his time to writing, producing over twenty books concerning the Palestinian cause and Arab unity between 1968 and 1979. He died in Amman, Jordan, on February 26, 1980, at the age of 72.
Fast facts
- Born: 1908, Tebnine
- Died: 26 February 1980, Amman
- Education: Al-Fadiliya School; Institute of Law in Palestine
- PLO Chairmanship: 1964-1968
- Languages: Turkish, English, Arabic
- Citizenship: Jordan, Ottoman Empire, Mandatory Palestine
Questions readers ask
What was Shukeiri's role in the PLO?
He served as the first Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization from 1964 to 1968.
What did Shukeiri do after leaving the PLO?
He wrote more than twenty books on Arab unity and the Palestinian cause between 1968 and 1979.
Achievements
- Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (1964–1968)
- Educated at Institute of Law in palestine and Al-Fadiliya School
