Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
Sources
- Khalidi, R. I. (2020). The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine.
- Robinson, K. (2024, May 28). Who governs the Palestinians?. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/who-governs-palestinians
- Sayigh, Yezid. Armed Struggle and the Search for State. 1997.
Background
The 1964 Arab League Summit in Cairo initiated the creation of a organization to represent the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Nation Council convened in Jerusalem on May 28, 1964, a couple of days later on the 2nd of June, the PLO was founded.
- Emerged post-1948 Arab–Israeli War and Nakba, when ~700,000 Palestinians were displaced.
- Goal: Palestinian self-determination, initially via armed struggle, later diplomacy (e.g., Oslo Accords).
- Operated from Jordan (1964-1971), then Lebanon, Tunisia.
Key Players
| Chairmen of the PLO | Term |
|---|---|
| Ahmad Shukeiri | May 28, 1964 - December 24, 1967 |
| Yahya Hammuda | December 24, 1967 - February 2, 1969 |
| Yasser Arafat | February 4, 1969 - October 29, 2004 |
| Mahmoud Abbas | November 11, 2004 - present |
- Factions: Fatah (mainstream, led by Arafat), PFLP (Marxist), DFLP (leftist).
- Opponents: Israel, Jordan (during Black September), US (designated PLO as terrorist group until 1991).
Events
- 1964: Palestinian National Council meets in Jerusalem, adopts Palestinian National Charter.
- 1960s-70s: Guerrilla attacks against Israel from Jordan, Lebanon.
- 1970: Expelled from Jordan after Black September conflict.
- 1982: Forced out of Lebanon after Israeli invasion.
- 1993: Signs Oslo Accords, recognizes Israel, gains limited Palestinian Authority control.
Outcome
- Shifted from armed struggle to diplomacy by 1990s.
- Recognized as Palestine’s representative at UN (1974).
- Criticism: Some Palestinians see PLO as compromising (e.g., rise of Hamas); Israel views it as insufficiently moderate.
- Ongoing role: Mahmoud Abbas leads Palestinian Authority, negotiates with Israel.
Connections
- Nakba: Catalyst for PLO’s creation.
- Black September PLO’s expulsion from Jordan.
- Oslo Accords: PLO’s diplomatic pivot.
- Hamas: Rival Palestinian faction post-1987.
Important Notes
- PLO’s charter initially called for Israel’s destruction, amended in 1996 to recognize Israel.
- Yasser Arafat’s leadership was polarizing: hero to Palestinians, terrorist to Israel.
- Human angle: PLO represented diaspora Palestinians, many in refugee camps post- Nakba.