Once an Arafat Man: The True Story of How a PLO Sniper Found a New Life

I learned several historical and cultural things from this book, but the thing I appreciated most was reading the story of someone who found Jesus' love and was transformed by it. I never get tired of hearing how God changes lives when people come face to face with truth! When Tass talks about "How I learned to love" there are lessons for everyone, not just descendents of Isaac and Ishmael. The examples of love, acceptance and humility along with the emphasis on forgiveness are things that all of us need to learn to live. I recommend this book.

Once an Arafat Man tells the story of Tass Saada, a Palestinian refugee who grew up in Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the 1950s and 1960s. From his experiences as a refugee, Tass learned to hate the Jews of Israel at a young age. When he was 17, he ran away from home to join Fatah and became a PLO sniper and chauffeur to Yasser Arafat. But years later while living in the United States, Tass converted to Christianity and the hatred he harbored for many years soon dissolved. This was the beginning of a new journey for Tass and his family, one focused on love, hope, and reconciliation.

This inspiring story deeply stirred my heart. I was moved by Tass's immense love for the Palestinians and Jews and his committment to reconciliation. He gives a unique perspective of the Palenstians and shows through the Bible how God blessed these people through Abraham's son, Ishmael, and how he deeply loves them still. Tass also gave me a profound understanding of what it means to be obedient to God's calling in our lives and God's faithfulness in providing what we need to fulfill His callings. Tass serves as a great example what it means to walk by faith.

I highly recommend this book to all readers.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it.

This man's story brought me to tears more than once. I believe it will continue to impact my heart for quite awhile to come. Once An Arafat Man was both eye-opening and heart-opening and is one book that I believe would be beneficial for all to read.

He begins the story by sharing his life as a Palestinian refugee and the bitterness and anger that fueled him. To be inside the mind and see through the eyes of a Palestinian Muslim was difficult at times, but allowed me to understand a different perspective. The author makes no excuses for the atrocities he committed but does allow the reader to understand the excuses he made to himself at the time. He then shares his experience in coming to the United States. His perception of Americans at that time would be laughable it wasn't so heart-breaking. He soon discovered his fear of violence from the US citizens was unfounded and he began to build a life here.

This was all very interesting but the power of the story is found in the second half when God reached out to him in a way he could not deny. The tears came fast and hard as I read of how God revealed Himself to this former sniper and offered forgiveness and hope for a new life. My own faith was renewed with the reminder of the power and love of a living God. My own heart was opened as God showed him that He is the God of Isaac and Ishmael. Christ's sacrifice was not to build a new religion called Christianity but to bring all peoples to redemption. Reconciliation is only to be found in Him.

Wow, powerful stuff.

Life did not suddenly become easy for this man but blessings did abound. Through doubt and discouragement, God was with him- training him for what was to come. He would walk with him as he returned once more to the Middle East, facing death and danger to offer hope. His story ends with encouragement to the reader, encouragement that hope and reconciliation is possible in our lives. After reading his story, that little germ of hope revived in my own heart.

I'm not usually a fan of biographies but for some reason felt drawn to read this book. I am so glad that I did. I believe it can be life-changing.

Last week, we watched the movie, The Kingdom. It was a powerful and frightening movie. As I read the first part of this book, I put Tass's story in the context of what was in that movie to help me picture what he did and what life was like for him. The first half of the book is very easy to read, not too gory or bloody in its description. It isn't especially engaging writing, but the first half does convey the story of Tass's life well. The second half is really what makes this book worth reading. Particularly pg. 196-200. I appreciated Saada's description of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as what he believes are the reasons behind it. I think it would be good for every Christian to read this part of the book. I think it would give us all great deal of compassion for the Palestinians and understanding.

Last year, I read Jimmy Carter's second book about Palestine and Israel. It was very good (as was the first), but this book is different because it comes from an insider. Saada above all wants peace for all and truly wants to live out the Lord's command for us to Love One Another as God has loved us.

A reader is able to learn about the Middle East from Tass's amazing story of change. His biggest transformation and most amazing was his conversion story, truly an miraculous story that is well worth reading. I enjoyed reading how he evolved from a spoiled rich kid into another American success story. An interesting story that is well worth reading

This story was not only exciting, fascinating and well written, but also very objective. Taas bared his soul, with all of his anger and pain, and hid nothing. He honestly expressed his impressions of the middle east situation as he grew into adulthood. He also revealed what it was like being raised in a Muslim society and the mentality they instill in their youth. Halfway through the book he tells of his miraculous encounter with Jesus Christ and the following change in his life. Taas does not present himself as a saint, but as a sinner and a rebel that is mercifully saved and renewed by the grace of a loving Father.

I thought this was a great read. Could not hardly put the book down

Excellent book about how Gods grace can reach anyone and change their lives.

It is a unique story and real one. It is not a fiction but it is a real one. This is one of the best book I have ever read. It is not only a STORY but it is a way of change of your life. It is very simple and clear. You can see yourself in this story and you can get that change. I believe that this book was translated to more than 10 different language and may be more than that. It is the best seller in many different places. Buy it, enjoy reading it, and get that change

We will not bend or fail until the blood of every last Jew from the youngest child to the oldest elder is spilt to redeem our land! - Yasser Arafat.

When the bombs blasted overhead and the staccato fire of guns ripped through al-Karameh in March of 1968, young Taysir Saada stood amid it all, gun in hand, ready to defend his people and reclaim his land. Fatah, under the leadership of Yasser Arafat, defeated the Israeli forces in a victory that energized that energized the Palestinian cause.

Taysir--known as Tass--had grown up as a wandering Palestinian. Born in a tent on the Gaza strip, Tass grew up as a refugee without a true homeland. His childhood was spent in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he grew to hate the Israelis who had left his people without a home. At the age of 17, Tass ran away from home and joined Fatah to fight for the Palestinian cause. As a soldier, he hated and taught others to hate.

But other things were in store for Tass. After fighting for Fatah, he found himself in America. And in America, he found Christ...or better yet, Christ found him. In 1993, twenty-five years after the fight at al-Karameh, Tass Saada gave his life to Jesus Christ.

From Hate to Love to the story between, Once an Arafat Man details the life of Tass Saada, once Arafat's chauffeur now missionary to his people in the Gaza Strip. Suspenseful, sobering, terrifying, enlightening, engaging, enthralling, powerful, heart-wrenching, emotional...there just aren't enough superlatives to convey the wide range of feelings and thoughts that Tass's incredible story takes its reader through.

As you read about his time in Fatah, you weep at the brutality and yet come to understand the rage and furor of the Palestinian people. In a culture that judges worth by the amount of land one owns, those without a country are considered the most despised. Tass takes us beyond the stereotypes and shows us the lives of real men who fought for a cause they believed just. Then, taken through Tass's early years in America as a manager of a top-notch restaurant, the reader comes to a collision with the Cross.

In a remarkable conversion experience, Tass became a follower of Jesus Christ. From this point on, the book tells of Tass's formative growth in Christianity and his Muslim family's enraged reaction when he told them of his conversion. The reader is taken on the journey through the beginning of Tass's ministry Hope for Ishmael. From riding around the country asking to speak in churches and mosques, to getting the chance to again meet and share the Gospel with his former leader, Yasser Arafat, Once an Arafat Man is a truly remarkable story.

In a day when the very term Arab stirs up negative emotions in the minds of many, this book is a much-needed look into the perspective of the Palestinians, and what great works God is doing amongst the children of Ishmael today.

The children of Ishmael and the children of Isaac have lived close to each other in this region from ancient times. Through the peace that comes from Yasooa/Yeshua/Jesus, we can recover the family relationship that has been lost. - Tass Saada

Note: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or ARC.