Amin Howeidi

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Amin Howeidi
Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate
In office
August 1967 – April 1970
PresidentGamal Abdel Nasser
Preceded bySalah Nasr
Succeeded byMohammed Hafez Ismail
Minister of War
In office
22 July 1967 – 24 February 1968
PresidentGamal Abdel Nasser
Preceded byShams Badran
Succeeded byMohammed Fawzi
Personal details
Born
Amin Hamid Howeidi

22 September 1921
Munufiya, Sultanate of Egypt
Died31 October 2009(2009-10-31) (aged 88)
Alma mater

Amin Hamid Howeidi (Arabic: أمين حامد هويدي; 22 September 1921–31 October 2009) was an Egyptian military leader, author and minister of war under Nasser's rule.

Early life and education[edit]

Howeidi was born in Munufiya on 22 September 1921.[1] He attended the Egyptian Military Academy and graduated in 1940.[2] He held a master's degree in military sciences from the Chief of Staff College which he received in 1951.[2] Then he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth and obtained another master's degree in military sciences in 1955.[2] Next, he obtained a master's degree in translation, press and publication from Cairo University in 1956.[2]

Career[edit]

After his graduation Howeidi began to work as a teacher at the Military Academy.[2] Later, he became a professor at the Military Chief of Staff College.[2] In addition, he served as the head of military operations planning in the Armed Forces Command.[2] He was part of the Free Officers who inaugurated the 1952 revolution in Egypt.[2] Then he began to hold public posts in 1956 when he was appointed minister of guidance.[3] His other offices included ambassador to Morocco (1962–1963), ambassador to Iraq (1963–1965),[4] minister of national guidance (1965–1966), and minister of state for cabinet affairs (1966–1967).[2]

Howeidi was appointed minister of war and director of general intelligence by Gamal Abdel Nasser after the defeat of Egypt in the Six-Day War.[4] His term as minister of war began on 22 July 1967, succeeding Shams Badran in the post.[5][6] Howeidi's term ended on 24 February 1968,[2] and he was succeeded by Mohammed Fawzi as defense minister.[6][7] Howeidi served as director of general intelligence from 1967 to 1970.[2]

Arrest[edit]

In 1971, Howeidi was detained along with 91 others accused of treason, and then tried at the Revolutionary Tribunal. He was sentenced to house arrest for nearly 10 years.[2]

Personal life and death[edit]

Howeidi was married and had two children, a daughter and a son.[8] He died on 31 October 2009 at the age of 88.[1]

Publications and views[edit]

Howeidi was the author of various books, including How Zionist Leaders Think, The lost opportunities for Arab unity,[9] 50 Years of Storms: Telling What I saw and The 1967 War: The Secrets and Mysteries.[1] In addition, he wrote op-eds for Al Ahram Weekly.[10][11] His commentaries were also published in the Al Ahali newspaper.[12]

Howeidi was optimistic about Arab-Israeli conflict and believed that the Clinton administration was sincere in its efforts to solve the conflict.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Egyptian Figures". SIS. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Abdel Moneim Said (12–18 November 2009). "Amin Howeidi and Mustafa Mahmoud". Al Ahram Weekly. No. 972. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009.
  3. ^ "Egypt War Minister replaced". The Times. No. 57000. Cairo. 22 July 1967. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Gamal Nkrumah (5–11 November 2009). "Obituary Amin Howeidi (1921-2009) Vexed, not villainous". Al Ahram Weekly. Vol. 971. Archived from the original on 11 November 2009.
  5. ^ "Nasser picks new aide". Eugene Register Guard. AP. 21 July 1967. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Former Ministers of War and Defense". Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  7. ^ "General Mohammed Fawzi". Edward Fox. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  8. ^ Gamal Nkrumah (2–8 August 2007). "Amin Howeidi: Learning from the revolution". Al Ahram Weekly. Vol. 856. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007.
  9. ^ "Brief Synopses of New Arabic-Language Publications". Contemporary Arab Affairs. 10 (3): 449. 2017. JSTOR 48599933.
  10. ^ "Daily information from occupied Iraq". peacelink.it. 28 July 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  11. ^ Amin Howeidi (8 August 2008). "The Day After". The Palestine Chronicle. Cairo. Retrieved 27 April 2024. Citing his article originally published in Al Ahram Weekly, 31 July-6 August 2008
  12. ^ Sana Abdullah (3 March 2004). "Review of the Arab press". United Press International. Amman. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  13. ^ Zafar Bangash (1 May 1998). "Reflecting on the future of the resistance to Zionist occupation in Lebanon". Crescent International. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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