Middle East Information Resource
Political Entities - Palestinian Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was founded in May 1964 at a Palestinian congress held in Jordanian East Jerusalem. Ahmad al-Shuqeiri, the representative of the Palestine Arabs in the Arab League had woorked long to make the meeting possible. The "Palestinian National Charter" (al-mithaq al-qawmi al-filastini) was adopted and Chairman Shuqeiri was put formally in control of the Executive Committee members. The foundation of the PLO, which was fully supported by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and reluctantly acquiesced to by Jordan. In 1959, Nasser suggested the establishment of a "Palestinian Entity" to represent the Palestinian national cause internationally. Palestinian nationalism, however, threatened Jordan because the Palestinians constituted more than half of the population.
In 1963, inter-Arab relations were turbulent, representing the bankruptcy of Nasser`s aggressive and interventionist policies. Nasser initiated the first Arab Summit Conference in Cairo, held in January 1964, in which he shifted the focus of Egypt`s regional policies from inter-Arab troubles to the Arab-Israeli Conflict. He proposed establishment of the Palestinian Entity as part of this shift. Jordan and resisted the proposed organization. Syria and some newly established Palestinian guerrilla groups, including Fatah wanted an organization that would wage an armed struggle. The Saudis feared it would be merely an Egyptian political instrument. The "Arab Higher Committee", by now a body representing mainly its historical leader al-Hajj (Muhammad) Amin al-Husseini, bitterly objected to the foundation of a new political representation for the Palestinians, declaring itself to be the sole representative of the Palestinian Arabs. The first Arab summit conference refrained from officially approving the establishment of such an entity, but instructed Shuqeiri to study the idea in the light of public opinion amongst the Palestinians and Arabs in general. A rapprochement between Nasser and King Hussein at the summit enabled Hussein to hold the constituent Palestinian congress in Jordan so that he could strongly influence the composition of the congress. Most of the representatives were pro-Hashemite.
Relations between the Palestinian National Council and the Jordan deteriorated. PLO broadcasts from Cairo further aggravated Arab antagonism to the PLO. The Arab defeat in the 1967 War hurt Shuqeiri`s position and he became politically isolated. Nasser had to give priority to reversing Egypt`s own territorial losses after the defeat of the Arab armies in the war. The outcome of the war and the rise of the Palestinian guerrilla paradigm forced Shuqeiri to resign in December 1967. He was replaced by Yahya Hamuda, another veteran Palestinian politician who did not represent the guerrilla groups. The fourth session of the PNC, held in Cairo in July 1968, which approved Shuqeiri`s resignation, appointed leaders of many guerilla organizations to key positions. Fatah`s leader Arafat became the PLO`s spokesman. In February 1969, at the fifth council session, the PLO gaining a majority on the Executive. Yasser Ararat was elected Chairman.
The guerrilla groups took over the PLO, which they styled as an umbrella organization for Palestinian military and civilian groups alike, as well as for Palestinians around the world. Its leadership and bureaucracy was dominated, but not entirely controlled by Farah. The PLO exhibited a persistent and uncompromising claim to be the exclusive authority to represent the Palestinian people, sometimes imposed by violence.
The newly constituted PLO radicaly changed their Charter. By 1967 the PLO had adopted the primary goal of destruction of the state of Israel. "The Palestinian National Charter" (al-mithaq al-watani aljllastini) implied nationhood. It stated that "the Palestinian Arab people" being an "inseparable part of the Arab nation" "possesses the legal right to its homeland;" that "The Palestinians are the Arab citizens living permanently in Palestine until 1947" and their descendants. The charter allowed for Jewish residents of the land they claimed to become Palestinians, but denied any legal, historical, or spiritual claim of the Jewish people to what they called Palestine. The PLO propounded the theory that a strategy of "Armed struggle was the only way to liberate Palestine," and "Fida`iyyun" (guerrilla) action was the essential element of the popular Palestinian war of Liberation."
When the PLO was recognized by the United Nations and by the Arab peoples at the Rabat Conference, the PLO saw new sources of support. Arafat remodeled the organization from one perceived by the West as barbaric into what could be seen as a movement with legitimate claims. Israel redoubled its efforts to eliminate the Palestinian threat. In 1982, the Israeli army swept into Beirut and routed the PLO from its stronghold. Arafat agreed to discuss peace with Israel. Little came of the talks, except more dissension within the PLO. Some moderate leaders were assassinated.
Perhaps to promote PLO unity, Yassir Arafat provided support for the hijacking of a major cruise ship. Operatives seized the vessel and took the entire ship hostage. Members of the team shot to death a wheelchair-bound Jewish passenger, then dumped his body overboard. The image of the PLO was badly damaged in the world, and slow to recover.
By 1988, Arafat had publicly announced the right of the state of Israel to exist and renounced PLO terrorism. The perceived commitment caused Israel to enter substantive talks with the PLO. The result of these discussions was partial Palestinian autonomy, with the possibility of eventually achieving statehood. In recent years, many Palestinians have become annoyed by what they perceive as the underachievement of the PLO regarding Palestinian independence. Many have joined either Hamas or Hizballah. On September 9, 1993, in letters to Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and Norwegian Foreign Minister Holst, Chairman Arafat committed the PLO to cease all violence and terrorism.
On September 13, 1993, a Declaration of Principles was signed in Washington, DC. Between September 9 and December 31, the PLO factions loyal to Arafat complied. Two groups under the PLO umbrella, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine-Hawatmeh faction, suspended their participation in the PLO and continued their campaign of violence. The PLO entered a tentative peace with the Israeli government until the second intifada.
In 2000 guerrilla activity increased in Israel. The PLO claimed not to be involved, which is probably not entirely true. In any case the government of Ariel Sharon was formed in early 2001 and has been aggressive in attempting to suppress the terrorism by destroying the infrastructure of the terrorists by military means.
See also Yasser Arafat [=GO=] .