Palestine Liberation Organization facts for kids

"PLO" redirects here. For other uses, see PLO (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Palestine Liberation Organization منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية

Abbreviation	PLO
Chairman	Mahmoud Abbas
Founded	28 May 1964
Headquarters	Al-Bireh, West Bank
Ideology	Palestinian nationalism Arab nationalism Pan-Arabism Arab socialism Secularism Anti-imperialism Anti-Zionism (until 1993) Two-state solution (since 1993) Factions: One-state solution Anti-Zionism Ba'athism Marxism
Political position	Left-wing
International affiliation	United Nations non-member observer
Members	Fatah PFLP DFLP PPP PLF ALF As-Sa'iqa FIDA PPSF PAF
Anthem	Fida'i
Palestinian Legislative Council	50 / 132
Website
http://www.plo.ps/en

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is a group that represents the Palestinian people around the world. It was created in 1964. At first, the PLO wanted to create an Arab state across all of the land that was once Mandatory Palestine, which meant removing the State of Israel.

However, in 1993, the PLO recognized Israel's right to exist. Now, the PLO aims to create an Arab state only in the Palestinian territories (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip). These areas have been under military control by Israel since the 1967 Arab–Israeli War.

The PLO's main office is in Al-Bireh, a city in the West Bank. Since 1974, the United Nations has recognized the PLO as an observer, meaning it can attend meetings but not vote. Before the Oslo Accords in 1993, some groups within the PLO were involved in violence against Israeli civilians. Because of this, the United States called it a terrorist group in 1987. But later, the US allowed contact with the PLO.

In 1993, Israel and the PLO held talks, leading to the Oslo I Accord. In this agreement, the PLO recognized Israel's right to live in peace, and Israel recognized the PLO as the official representative of the Palestinian people. Even after this, some militant actions continued, especially during the Second Intifada (2000–2005). In 2018, the PLO stopped recognizing Israel and paused cooperation until Israel recognizes a Palestinian state based on the borders from before 1967.

How was the PLO founded?
What are the PLO's main beliefs?
- Is the PLO religious or secular?
How is the PLO organized?
What is the PLO's political standing?
- The PLO's status at the United Nations
- Diplomatic representation
The peace process
History and armed actions
Who are the members of the PLO?
See also

How was the PLO founded?

The Arab League decided to create an organization to represent the Palestinian people at a meeting in Cairo in 1964. The Palestinian National Council then met in Jerusalem on May 28, 1964. The PLO was officially founded on June 2, 1964. Its main goals were to unite Arab nations and to free Palestine.

What are the PLO's main beliefs?

The PLO's beliefs were first written down in 1964 in the Palestinian National Covenant. This document was updated in 1968.

Before 1993, the PLO mainly supported armed struggle to achieve its goals. After the Oslo Accords were signed, the official policy changed to focus on negotiations and diplomacy. In 1996, many parts of the original Charter that did not fit with the Oslo Accords were removed or changed.

A main idea of the PLO is the belief that Zionists unfairly forced Palestinians out of Palestine and created a Jewish state there. The PLO has always demanded that Palestinian refugees be allowed to return to their homes.

The original Charter stated that Palestine, with its borders from the British rule, was one single area, meaning there was no room for a Jewish state. This part was changed in 1996 to fit the Oslo Accords. Another article, which was removed in 1996, said that claims of historical or religious ties of Jews to Palestine were not true. It also stated that Judaism is a religion, not a nationality, and Jews are citizens of the countries they live in.

Article 3 of the Charter says that the Palestinian Arab people have the right to their homeland and the right to decide their own future after their country is freed.

Is the PLO religious or secular?

The PLO and its main group, Fatah, are often seen as secular, meaning they are not based on religion. This is different from groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are more religious. However, most Palestinians are Muslim, mainly Sunni. A small number (about 1%) of Palestinians in the occupied territories are Christian.

Under former leader Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Authority (which Fatah leads) made Islam the official religion in Palestine. It also said that Islamic sharia law is a main source for laws.

How is the PLO organized?

Orient House, a former PLO office in Jerusalem

The PLO is an umbrella group that brings together different Palestinian movements. These groups generally have non-religious beliefs and are committed to working for Palestinian independence. It includes many resistance groups, political parties, and other organizations.

From the start, the PLO was set up like a government-in-exile. It has a parliament, called the Palestinian National Council (PNC), which is the highest authority. It also has an executive government (EC) chosen by the PNC. In reality, it has often worked more like a military organization because its goal was to "liberate Palestine."

The Palestinian National Charter explains the PLO's beliefs. There is also a "Fundamental Law" that sets out how the organization is structured and how the Palestinian people are represented.

What are the PLO's main bodies?

The Palestinian National Council has 740 members. The Executive Committee (ExCo) has 18 members. The Palestinian Central Council (PCC), created in 1973, is another important body. It has 124 members from the PLO Executive Committee, PNC, PLC, and other Palestinian groups. The PCC acts as a link between the PNC and the ExCo, making policy decisions when the PNC is not meeting.

The PNC acts as the parliament for all Palestinians, both inside and outside the occupied territories. The PLO's "Fundamental Law" guides how its different parts work together.

Ahmad Shukeiri was the first leader of the PLO's Executive Committee from 1964 to 1967. After him, Yahia Hammuda took over. Yasser Arafat led the PLO from 1969 until he passed away in 2004. Mahmoud Abbas then became the Chairman.

If elections cannot be held, most PNC members are chosen by the executive committee. The PNC is meant to represent all parts of the Palestinian community worldwide, including resistance groups, political parties, and important individuals like thinkers, religious leaders, and business people.

What has the PLO published?

The PLO has published various newspapers and magazines. Some of the early ones included Falastinuna. In the late 1970s, its publications grew to include many daily, weekly, and monthly papers. Some well-known ones are Falastin Al Thawra and Shu'un Filastiniyya. Its official news agency is Wafa.

Why is the PLO's representation sometimes questioned?

For many years, there have been no elections for the PNC, the ExCo, or the President of the State of Palestine. The Executive Committee is supposed to have 18 members, but often some seats are empty. Also, Hamas, a major group in the Palestinian territories, is not part of the PLO.

The results of the 2006 Palestinian elections, where Hamas won many seats even though it wasn't a PLO member, showed that the PLO leadership might not have strong public support. However, individual members of the PLC who represent Hamas automatically become members of the PNC.

Some Palestinian lawyers and scholars have questioned the PLO's right to represent the Palestinian people because of the lack of elections. They have asked for direct elections to the Palestine National Council to make sure the PLO truly represents all Palestinians, especially those living outside the territories as refugees.

What is the difference between the PLO and the PA?

The Oslo Accords (1993–1995) created the Palestinian National Authority (PA) specifically for Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This separated them from the PLO and Palestinians living in exile. A separate parliament and government were set up for the PA.

Even though many in the PLO did not like the Oslo Agreements, the Executive Committee and Central Council approved them. This led to the PLO becoming less powerful, as the PA started to take its place as the main Palestinian political body. Groups within the PLO that were against the Oslo process lost influence.

Yasser Arafat managed to keep power by holding leadership roles in both the PLO and the PA. In 2002, he was Chairman of the PLO/Executive Committee, Chairman of Fatah, and President of the Palestinian National Authority. He also controlled the Palestinian security forces.

The PLO became more visible again during the Hamas-led PA Government in 2006–2007. After Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Abbas suspended the PLC and appointed a new prime minister. The PLO remains the official representative of the State of Palestine at the UN.

What is the PLO's political standing?

The Arab League recognizes the PLO as "the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people." The United Nations also sees it as "the representative of the Palestinian people."

The United States called the PLO a terrorist organization in 1987. However, in 1988, the US allowed contact with the group. Most other countries recognized the PLO as the legitimate representative of Palestinians from the mid-1970s onward.

In 1993, PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat officially recognized the State of Israel in a letter to its prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin. In response, Israel recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. This led to the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993.

The PLO's status at the United Nations

Observer status

The United Nations General Assembly recognized the PLO as the "representative of the Palestinian people" in 1974. It also gave the PLO observer status, allowing it to attend UN meetings. In 1976, the UN Security Council allowed the PLO to join its debates without voting rights, which is usually only for UN member states. The PLO became a full member of the Asia group in 1986.

After the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, the PLO's representation at the UN was renamed "Palestine." In 1998, this status was expanded to allow Palestine to participate in General Assembly debates, though still without voting rights.

Application for UN state membership in 2011

In September 2011, when President Mahmoud Abbas asked for Palestine to become a full UN member state, some Palestinian lawyers worried that changing Palestine's status at the UN might harm the legal position of the Palestinian people. They were concerned about a split where the State of Palestine would represent people inside the UN, while the PLO would represent Palestinians outside, including refugees. They feared that refugees might lose their representation at the UN. In November 2012, Palestine was given "non-member observer State" status, but the General Assembly kept the PLO's status as well.

′Non-member observer state′ status

By September 2012, since their request for full membership was stuck, the PLO decided to seek an upgrade to "non-member observer state" status. On November 29, 2012, the UN General Assembly approved this. This new status makes Palestine's position similar to that of the Holy See (Vatican City) at the UN.

Diplomatic representation

The PLO has had offices in the United States. The "Palestine Information Office" was open until 1968, then reopened in 1989 as the "Palestine Affairs Center." In 1994, the PLO Mission office opened in Washington D.C. In 2010, its status was upgraded to "General Delegation of the PLO." However, in 2018, the US announced the closure of the PLO Mission.

The peace process

At first, the PLO was a guerrilla organization that carried out actions against Israel in the 1970s and early 1980s. Israel saw these as terrorist acts, while the PLO viewed them as a war of liberation. However, in 1988, the PLO officially supported a two-state solution. This meant having a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, allowing Palestinians to return to their homes from before 1948, and continuing armed struggle until the end of "The Zionist Entity." In 1996, the PLO removed parts of its Charter that called for Israel's destruction and armed resistance.

The Ten Point Program

After the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the PLO started to think about a new plan. They aimed to create a "national authority" over any land they could regain. In June 1974, the Palestine National Council adopted the Ten Point Program. It stated that the PLO would use all means, especially armed struggle, to free Palestinian land and set up an independent government over any liberated areas.

This program meant the West Bank and Gaza Strip were seen as an interim goal. The final goal was still to free all Palestinian territory and regain all national rights, including the right to return and self-determination. The PLO still rejected UN Resolution 242 at this time.

While still supporting armed struggle, the PLO also started to consider peaceful methods. The Ten Point Program was seen as the PLO's first step towards a peaceful solution. In October 1974, the Arab League and the UN recognized the PLO. This opened the door for diplomacy. However, more radical groups rejected the program, which caused a split in the movement.

The First Intifada

In 1987, the First Intifada (a Palestinian uprising) began in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The PLO leadership, which was based abroad, was surprised by this and could only influence events indirectly. New local leaders emerged. After King Hussein of Jordan separated the West Bank from Jordan in 1988, the Palestine National Council declared an independent State of Palestine in Algiers.

A month later, Arafat stated in Geneva that the PLO would support a solution based on UN Resolutions. This meant the PLO recognized Israel's right to exist within its pre-1967 borders, with the understanding that Palestinians would have their own state in the West Bank and Gaza. The United States accepted this and began diplomatic talks with PLO officials. Although over 100 states recognized the State of Palestine, the declaration did not immediately lead to statehood.

The Oslo Accords

In 1993, the PLO and Israel secretly negotiated the Oslo Accords. These agreements were signed on August 20, 1993, and then publicly in Washington, D.C., on September 13, 1993, by Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin. The Accords gave Palestinians the right to self-government in the Gaza Strip and the city of Jericho in the West Bank through the creation of the Palestinian Authority. Yasser Arafat became the head of the Palestinian Authority, and a plan for elections was set. The PLO's main office moved to Ramallah in the West Bank.

History and armed actions

Early actions

The PLO began its militant actions with an attack on Israel's National Water Carrier in January 1965. The group used guerrilla tactics to attack Israel from bases in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria.

Some notable actions carried out by groups within the PLO included:

The 1970 Avivim school bus bombing by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), which killed children and adults.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) carried out attacks and plane hijackings, including the Dawson's Field hijackings.
In 1972, the Black September Organization carried out the Munich massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes.
In 1974, DFLP members took over a school in Israel, leading to the Ma'alot massacre where students and adults were killed.
The 1975 Savoy Hotel attack and the 1978 Coastal Road massacre, both carried out by Fatah, resulted in many deaths.

War of Attrition

From 1967 to September 1970, the PLO, with some support from Jordan, fought a "war of attrition" with Israel. During this time, the PLO launched attacks on Israeli communities and forces. Israel responded by raiding PLO camps in Jordan. This conflict ended with Jordan expelling the PLO to Lebanon in July 1971.

Black September

The PLO faced a major setback when Jordan attacked its armed groups in events known as Black September in 1970. Palestinian groups were forced out of Jordan. During the 1970s, the PLO became an umbrella group of eight organizations based in Damascus and Beirut. All these groups were focused on armed struggle against Israel. After Black September, the Cairo Agreement led the PLO to set up its base in Lebanon.

Lebanon and the Lebanese Civil War

By the late 1960s, and especially after Palestinian fighters were expelled from Jordan in 1970–1971, Lebanon became the main base for PLO operations. Palestinian militant groups moved their headquarters to South Lebanon. They launched attacks on Israel and on Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide, often with support from Palestinian refugee camps. The growing involvement of Palestinians in Lebanese politics and Israeli responses gradually made the situation worse.

By the mid-1970s, Arafat and his Fatah movement were in a difficult position. Arafat increasingly called for diplomacy, as shown by his Ten Point Program. He also supported a 1976 UN Security Council resolution that called for a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders. However, a group called the Rejectionist Front rejected diplomacy, and the United States vetoed the diplomatic solution. In 1975, growing tensions between Palestinian militants and Christian militias led to the start of the Lebanese Civil War.

In 1976, Syria joined the war by invading Lebanon, starting a 29-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In 1978, Israel invaded South Lebanon after the Coastal Road massacre by Palestinian militants based in Lebanon.

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip saw Arafat as their best hope for resolving the conflict. This was especially true after the Camp David Accords of 1978 between Israel and Egypt, which Palestinians felt hurt their hopes for self-determination.

In 1982, after an attack on an Israeli diplomat by Palestinian militants in Lebanon, Israel invaded Lebanon on a much larger scale. This invasion, coordinated with Lebanese Christian militias, reached Beirut and eventually forced the PLO headquarters to leave in June of that year. After the PLO was forced out, the Lebanese Civil War continued, shifting from mainly a conflict between the PLO and Christians to one involving all Lebanese groups.

Tunis

In 1982, the PLO moved its headquarters to Tunis, Tunisia, after Israel forced it out of Lebanon during the 1982 Lebanon War. About 8,000 PLO fighters left Beirut and spread out.

On October 1, 1985, the Israeli Air Force bombed the PLO's Tunis headquarters, killing over 60 people.

The time the PLO spent in Tunis (1982–1991) is often seen as a difficult period. It led to the Oslo negotiations and the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Being far from most Palestinians, the PLO became less effective. Many Palestinians felt this was the beginning of the end for the organization.

Second Intifada

The Second or Al-Aqsa Intifada began around the same time that peace talks broke down in July 2000 between Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The violence decreased by 2005, but the Intifada never officially ended. During 2000–2004, it is estimated that 3,223 Palestinians and 950 Israelis died. Members of the PLO have taken responsibility for some attacks against Israelis during this period.

The PLO has been sued in the United States by families of those killed or injured in attacks by Palestinians. In one case, the PLO was found responsible for the deaths and injuries of US citizens in several attacks in Israel from 2001 to 2004. It was ordered to pay a large sum of money. However, this decision was later overturned because a US court did not have the authority over actions that happened overseas.

Who are the members of the PLO?

Current members include:

Fatah – This is the largest group. It is non-religious and focuses on Palestinian nationalism.
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – The second largest group, it is a radical left-wing and communist militant organization.
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) – The third largest group, it is also communist.
Palestinian People's Party (PPP) – A socialist group.
Palestinian Liberation Front (PLF, Abu Abbas faction) – A smaller left-wing group that broke away from another.
Arab Liberation Front (ALF) – A smaller group connected to the Iraqi Ba'ath Party.
As-Sa'iqa – A Ba'athist group controlled by Syria.
Palestinian Democratic Union (Fida) – A smaller democratic socialist group that supports a two-state solution and is not militant.
Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF, Samir Ghawsha faction) – A smaller socialist group.
Palestinian Arab Front (PAF) – A smaller group that supports Fatah and was formerly linked to the Iraqi Ba'athist party.

Former member groups of the PLO include:

Palestinian Liberation Front (PLF, Abu Nidal Ashqar wing) – socialist
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC) – connected to Syria
Revolutionary Palestinian Communist Party (RPCP) – communist
Fatah al-Intifada – a Syrian-controlled, left-wing group that split from Fatah
Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF, Khalid ʽAbd al-Majid faction) – a left-wing group that split from PSF

Chairmen of the Executive Committee

Ahmad Shukeiri (June 2, 1964 – December 24, 1967)
Yahya Hammuda (December 24, 1967 – February 2, 1969)
Yasser Arafat "Abu Amar" (February 4, 1969 – November 11, 2004)

* (He was in exile in Jordan until April 1971; Lebanon from 1971 to December 1982; and Tunis from December 1982 to May 1994)

Mahmoud Abbas "Abu Mazen" (From October 29, 2004 – present)

* (He was acting chairman for Arafat until November 11, 2004)