Although Jordan's King Hussein had a secret desire to hold peace negotiations with Israel, his country’s relationship with Israel was further strained by the fact that the PLO used its bases in Jordan as launching points for attacks on Israel. In September 1970, Hussein finally declared war on the PLO, imposing martial law. Three thousand people lost their lives in the fighting that ensued between the Jordanian and the PLO forces. Finally, in a peace agreement brokered by the Arab League and by Nasser himself, the PLO agreed to move its headquarters from Jordan to Lebanon. This was one of Nasser’s last acts as a leader, as he died that month of a heart attack.

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