Palestinian Liberation Front facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palestinian Liberation Front
جبهة التحرير الفلسطينية
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| Leader | Wasel Abu Yousef |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Ramallah, Palestine |
| Ideology | Palestinian nationalism |
| National affiliation | PLO |
The Palestinian Liberation Front (Arabic: جبهة التحرير الفلسطينية, PLF) is a Palestinian group. Since 1997, the PLF has been seen by the United States as a group that uses violence. Canada also added them to a similar list in 2003. The PLF is also not allowed in Japan.
Contents
Key Events and Actions
The Achille Lauro Ship Incident
One well-known event involving the PLF was the taking over of an Italian cruise ship called the MS Achille Lauro. This happened on October 7, 1985. The people who took over the ship originally wanted to use it to secretly enter Israel.
However, the ship's crew found them getting weapons ready. Because they were discovered, the group then took control of the ship.
Later, United States fighter planes made the Egyptian airplane carrying Abu Abbas land. Abu Abbas was a leader of the PLF. The plane landed at a USAF base in Sigonella, Sicily. The Italian authorities let Abbas go, but later found him guilty even though he was not there. Abbas then moved his main office to Baghdad, Iraq.
The 1990 Beach Attack
In May 1990, the PLF launched an attack on Nizanim beach in Israel. This beach is close to Tel Aviv. The group was encouraged by Iraq to try and stop peace talks between the PLO and Israel.
The attackers planned to harm people on the beach. However, this attack was stopped before anyone was hurt. This event was important because it caused problems for peace talks. The United States stopped its discussions with the Palestinians that had started in 1988. Even though Yasser Arafat did not officially speak against the attack, the PLF faced strong criticism from within the PLO. Because of this, Abu Abbas had to leave his position on the PLO's executive committee.
The PLF in Recent Times
PLF leaders have been active in the PLO. Abu Abbas was the PLF's representative in the PLO's executive committee. After the PLO signed the 1993 Oslo Accords, which the PLF did not agree with, Abu Abbas said the group would stop using violence. He also accepted that Israel had a right to exist.
The PLF kept offices in the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, and Iraq. However, their activities became less frequent. They have little support in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Their main strength is in the Lebanese refugee camps. There, they have worked with Fatah against other groups.
In November 2001, Israeli authorities arrested 15 members of a PLF group. Some of those arrested had received military training in Iraq. This group had been planning attacks in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Ben Gurion airport. The group had also been involved in other violent acts.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, a military action led by the US, Abu Abbas was captured in April 2003. He passed away on March 9, 2004, while being held by US forces in Iraq. Reports say he died of natural causes.
See also
- 1979 Nahariya attack
- Palestinian Liberation Front (Abu Nidal Ashqar wing)
- Palestinian Liberation Front (Abd ul-Fattah Ghanim wing)
