The spelling of "Black September" can be explained with the IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "black" is spelled with a voiced velar stop "b" and a lax front vowel "æ". The second syllable "Sep" is spelled with a voiceless alveolar fricative "s" and a lax front vowel "ɛ". The third syllable "tem" is spelled with a voiceless alveolar stop "t" and a lax front vowel "ɛ". The stress falls on the second syllable. Together, the word is pronounced as /blæk ˈsɛptɛm.bər/.
Black September refers to a prominent Palestinian militant organization that gained notoriety for its acts of terrorism in the 1970s. It is also the name famously associated with the events that unfolded during the 1972 Munich Olympics, where the organization carried out a horrific attack resulting in the deaths of 11 Israeli Olympic team members.
Black September emerged as a splinter group from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1970. The organization aimed to gain recognition for the Palestinian cause by targeting Israeli and Western interests through acts of violence. Their tactics included hostage-taking, airplane hijackings, and bombings. The Munich massacre was the group's most high-profile operation and marked a turning point in global perceptions of Palestinian terrorism.
The name "Black September" derives from the month in which the organization was established, paying homage to the events that transpired during the events of the Munich Olympics. Their activities continued until the late 1970s, when the organization disbanded under increased pressure from international counterterrorism efforts.
The name "Black September" has since become synonymous with acts of terrorism committed by Palestinian militants during the 1970s. It serves as a reminder of the violent methods employed by certain factions pursuing political objectives. The events associated with Black September continue to resonate in global collective memory, highlighting the complex and volatile nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The term "Black September" originated from a tragic event involving the Palestinian liberation movement and its various factions. It refers to the month of September in 1970 when a series of violent events occurred in Jordan, primarily in its capital city, Amman.
The etymology of the term can be traced back to the conflict between the Jordanian government and the Palestinian groups, which had established a significant presence in the country following the Arab-Israeli war of 1967. Seeking to exert more control over the situation and curb the growing influence of the Palestinians, the Jordanian government launched a military offensive against the Palestinian organizations in September 1970. This offensive, known as the "Black September" operation, aimed to suppress the activities of these groups.
During the intense fighting, which lasted several weeks, significant casualties were reported on both sides.