On 28 November 1971, Wasfi Tal, the 15th Prime Minister of Jordan, was assassinated while he was on his way to attend an Arab League meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.

[2] After the assassination of Jordanian Prime Minister Hazza' Majali in 1960, an audio recording of Wasfi Tal emerged, in which he predicted his own death.

Wasfi Tal was one of King Hussein’s closest advisors during the conflict, and was subsequently appointed as Prime Minister later that year.

[4][5][6][7] An enmity had developed between Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat and Tal after the latter's involvement in the killing of Abu Ali Iyad in the Ajloun forests.

[4] Tal opposed any organization operating in Jordan on behalf of another state, fearing that the activities of the fedayeen might turn against the Hashemite regime instead of focusing on the Israeli occupation.

[2] A week prior to the incident, Jordanian intelligence (GID) intercepted coded messages indicating an impending assassination of Wasfi Tal.

The day before his departure, Natheer Rshaid, the then-director of Jordanian intelligence, made a personal effort to warn Tal and urged him not to proceed with the trip.

However, Tal chose to ignore the warning and insisted on going ahead, replying: "No one dies before their time, and lives are in the hands of God".

[2] During the meeting, Tal presented a detailed report to the Arab defense ministers, focusing on strategies for confronting Israel in 1971.

He emphasized the need for Arab nations to unite in supporting this initiative, urging the ministers to ensure the provision of financial resources, media coverage, and logistical backing for Palestinian forces.

[2] After the meeting adjourned, Tal departed with his guard, Foreign Minister Abdullah Salah, and Ambassador Ali al-Hayari, heading to the Sheraton Hotel.

Shortly after Wasfi Tal and Abdullah Salah stepped out of the car near the Sheraton hotel entrance, gunfire erupted at 3:45 pm Cairo time.

Egyptian newspapers prominently reported that the primary suspect and mastermind of the operation was Fakhri Al-Omari, who had managed to evade capture.

The New York Times described the incident that day:[18].. this cowardly murder in a Cairo hotel can hardly aid the cause of the Palestinian Arabs, which the assassins profess to champion.

It is another sordid example of the tendency of some Palestinians toward self‐destruction and of the persisting capacity for mischief of the extremist elements whose organized military strength in Jordan was so effectively decimated under Mr.

The assassin was quickly identified as a member of the Palestinian Black September group, and Jordanian authorities worked closely with Egyptian officials to apprehend those responsible for orchestrating the murder.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian authorities released the perpetrators of the assassination without punishment or trial, a move widely seen as evidence of Nasserist regime complicity.

More significantly, some claim that Egyptian officials allowed the assassins to bring their weapons into the country upon their arrival by plane, further implicating them in the operation.

While King Hussein vowed to continue his policy of stability and national unity, the killing of Tal further strained the already fragile relationship between the Jordanian government and Palestinian factions.

[18][36] Following Tal's assassination, the Jordanian government dispatched the Deputy Director of Intelligence to observe the investigations for eight days; however, he was denied access to any information related to the case.

The event was also attended by lawyers from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Palestine, who sought to analyze the Jordanian government's treatment of Palestinians, rather than the criminal culpability of the accused individuals.

The judge sat down and said, "After reviewing the documents, hearing the arguments, and deliberating legally, and in accordance with Articles 145 and 146 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the court has decided to release the accused".

While his legacy is complicated by his role in the Black September conflict and his association with the Jordanian monarchy, he is remembered by many as a capable and dedicated leader who worked tirelessly for the welfare of his country.