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May 1937

Jaffa, Palestine Mandate

August 18, 2002

Baghdad, Iraq

Founder of the Abu Nidal Organization

"In the entire world there are no solutions by peaceful means. If you read Arabic history you will see that no peaceful method has ever brought about a solution for our problems."

Sabri al Banna, the man better known as Abu Nidal, was considered the most dangerous terrorist in the world during the 1970s, much as Osama bin Laden (c. 1957–; see entry) would be known thirty years later. He turned his guns and bombs against both Israeli and Palestinian targets. He was as concerned with making sure that Palestinian leaders did not sign a peace agreement with Israel as he was with fighting Israel directly.

Abu Nidal became known as a "gun for hire," working for a variety of governments. Eventually he became unwel-come in most Arab countries...