Arafat Ally Qaddoumi Dies: Opposed Oslo, Refused to Return

The late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Farouk al-Qaddoumi during a meeting in Tunisia in 1992 (Getty Images)

Veteran Palestinian leader Farouk al-Qaddoumi, known as “Abu al-Lutf,” died on Thursday in Amman, Jordan, at the age of 94.
A founding member of the Fatah movement, Qaddoumi was among the last of the original leadership, leaving President Mahmoud Abbas as the sole remaining prominent figure from that era.
Abbas expressed his sorrow, describing Qaddoumi as a “national and historic leader” and a lifelong companion in the struggle for Palestine.
He also offered condolences to Qaddoumi’s sons, Rami and Lutfi, following their father’s death, which came less than two months after the passing of Qaddoumi’s wife.
Qaddoumi was one of the original founders of the Fatah movement in 1965, alongside Yasser Arafat, Salah Khalaf, and Khalil al-Wazir.
He played a significant role in Fatah’s early years, navigating battles and crises, but his influence declined after the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s, which he opposed. Unlike many of his peers, Qaddoumi refused to return to the Palestinian territories.
Despite his opposition to Oslo, Qaddoumi remained a key figure in Fatah and the PLO, staying close to Arafat. He played a crucial role in supporting Abbas as Arafat’s successor, quelling potential divisions within the movement.
In 2004, when Arafat’s wife, Suha, accused Abbas of trying to seize power as Arafat lay dying, many looked to Qaddoumi for his stance.
He ultimately supported Abbas.
However, their alliance soured in 2009 when Qaddoumi accused Abbas of involvement in Arafat’s alleged poisoning, leading to Qaddoumi’s removal from his positions within the PLO and Fatah.
Qaddoumi was outspoken against Oslo and critical of Palestinian leadership. Although he had a falling out with Abbas, they reconciled in meetings in 2010 and 2011.
However, Qaddoumi’s age, health issues, and distance from the political scene kept him out of the spotlight in his later years.