5 ways Fidel Castro impacted the Arab world

Many Arabs will remember Cuba's longtime revolutionary leader Fidel Castro fondly for his historic support and friendship. The revolutionary leader died on Friday evening at 90, with the news breaking around the world on Saturday.

Here are 5 ways Castro impacted the Middle East.

Under Castro's leadership, Cuba became one of the first countries in the world to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization when it was founded in 1964. 

Ten years later, PLO leader Yasser Arafat would visit Castro in Cuba, further cementing Palestinian ties with the Cuban government. Castro's government also awarded Arafat with one of Cuba's highest decorations, the Orden Nacional Playa Giron, or Bay of Pigs Medal.

The medal is "awarded to Cuban citizens or foreigners who have excelled in the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism, or who have done great deeds for peace and progress of mankind," according to Al Jazeera.

Castro's Cuba was also a friend to a young Algeria during its revolution for independence from France and following independence in 1962.

"Castro is my brother," Algeria's first prime minister, Ahmed Ben Bella, announced following Algeria's declaration of independence.

He flew to Cuba that same year to meet with Castro and discuss their respective countries' revolutions.

"Protocol was forgotten and we talked … the two youngest revolutions of the world met, compared notes and together envisioned the future," Ben Bella said later in regards to the meeting, according to the New Arab. 

These ties have continued until the present day. "The friendship between Algeria and Cuba remains as indestructible as fifty years ago", current Cuban President Raul Castro, the brother of Fidel Castro, said in 2009. 

Educational, oil and medical agreements were enhanced between the two countries in October. 

Throughout the Cold War, Cuba was a major power player in the Middle East. South Yemen of a then divided Yemen was the only Arab country to adopt a Soviet-style system similar to Cuba, and received support from the island nation. Hundreds of soldiers were sent to Yemen during its civil and regional wars. 

Yemen's deposed president Ali Abdullah Saleh has asked special permission from the United Nations Security Council to attend Castro's funeral. Saleh currently is under UN sanctions for "threatening peace and obstructing Yemen's political process."

In a statement, Saleh's political party called Castro "the last of the twentieth century's heroes and the pioneer of the liberation movements who fought against imperialism and retrograde feudalism," according to Reuters.

On the surface, this would seem to be an unlikely friendship. What with Iran being a theocracy and Cuba being ardently secular. But the two countries had a common enemy, so the thorny differences in their ideologies could be set aside. 

 "As you have witnessed, the Islamic Revolution has always sided with Cuba in its conflict with the United States, since we believe that your struggle is a just one,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said during a meeting with Castro in 2001, according Middle East Eye. 

"From an Islamic point of view, your resistance against U.S. bullying and domination is a merit. This is why you received that warm welcome when you visited Tehran University today. If leaders of many countries visit our universities, they will not receive such a warm welcome. This shows that our people are quite aware of the value of your just resistance against the United States."

In 2014, during Israel's assault on Gaza in Palestine, Castro described the aggression as a "new, repugnant form of fascism."

"Why does the government of [Israel] think that the world will be impervious to this macabre genocide that is being committed today against the Palestinian people?"

He went on to sign a pro-Palestinian manifesto the same year, demanding the UN to hold Israel accountable to its resolutions.

In late 1959, Castro's brother Raul visited the Gaza Strip in a first-of-its-kind trip on the international stage. Meanwhile, Latin American countries repeatedly supported the Israeli position in international forums. 

Castro's revolution inspired many throughout the Middle East and the world. At the same time, as is the case with many leaders, his government oversaw significant human rights abuses. Thousands of dissidents were detained and imprisoned during the decades of his rule. Families were torn apart as many fled to new opportunities in the United States.

In his death, some rejoice and others mourn. Castro was, like any other great leader, deeply loved by many and bitterly despised by many others.