Ismail Safwat
Ismail Safwat ( Arabic إسماعيل صفوت, DMG Ismāʿīl Ṣafwat ) was a general in the Iraqi army. During the Palestine War he was entrusted with the creation of a pan-Arab plan of invasion.
Safwat started his military career in the army of the Ottoman Empire . Within the Iraqi armed forces, he rose to the rank of general.
At the beginning of the Palestinian War, Safwat became an advisor to the military committee of the Arab League . Safwat predicted correctly that the irregular guerrilla forces of the Palestinian Arabs and the Arab Liberation Army would not suffice the Yishuv to strike militarily.
As a result, he proclaimed an invasion plan, in which Lebanon , Syria , Egypt , Iraq and Transjordan should intervene as early as possible. His plan called for five modernly equipped divisions with adequate air support as a minimum. The plan was rejected by the Arab states for political reasons. Safwat also failed to establish effective command over all Arab forces. The various nations were pursuing their own interests and therefore resisted Safwat's efforts. He was replaced by Iraqi general Nur al-Din Mahmud on May 13, 1948, three days before regular Arab troops marched into the former Mandate Palestine .
He was also the nominal commander of the Arab Liberation Army. Their operations, however, were directed by Fausi al-Kawukdschi .
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c Benny Morris: 1948 - A History of the First Arab-Israeli War; New Haven, 2008, pp. 68f, 71, 180f, 187f.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Safwat, Ismail |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Safwat Pasha, Ismail |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Iraqi general |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 19th century or 20th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 20th century or 21st century |