The Palestinian The Palestinian Liberation OrganizationLiberation Organization

Joseph BenedickJoseph Benedick

OriginsOrigins► Founded in 1964 upon Founded in 1964 upon

the Palestine National the Palestine National Council’s (PNC) election Council’s (PNC) election of a 15 member of a 15 member executive committee executive committee lead by Ahmad Shuqayrilead by Ahmad Shuqayri

► ““Called for the Called for the elimination of Israel and elimination of Israel and the restoration of the restoration of Palestine to the Palestine to the Palestinians”Palestinians”

► Al-Fatah “moved to fill Al-Fatah “moved to fill the political vacuum” the political vacuum” after the defeat of the after the defeat of the Arabs in 1967Arabs in 1967

FactionsFactions► al-Fatahal-Fatah

Established in Kuwait by Established in Kuwait by Arafat among othersArafat among others

Largest groupLargest group► PFLPPFLP

Popular Front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of PalestineLiberation of Palestine

Founded by George HabashFounded by George Habash ““Marxist group dedicated to Marxist group dedicated to

the over throw of the over throw of conservative Arab conservative Arab governments”governments”

► DFLPDFLP Further left offshoot of PFLP Further left offshoot of PFLP

lead by Jordanian Nayif lead by Jordanian Nayif HawatmaHawatma

► PFLP-GC (General Command)PFLP-GC (General Command)► PLFPLF

Palestine Liberation Front Palestine Liberation Front headed by Abbu Abbasheaded by Abbu Abbas

ActionsActions

► Karameh: March 1968Karameh: March 1968 Guerilla attacks into Israel from Guerilla attacks into Israel from

Jordan called for by Arafat Jordan called for by Arafat increases credibility/popularityincreases credibility/popularity

Israel mounts massive Israel mounts massive retaliatory campaignretaliatory campaign

Battle resulted in 21 Israeli Battle resulted in 21 Israeli deaths and over 100 Palestinian deaths and over 100 Palestinian deathsdeaths

Declared victory by PLODeclared victory by PLO► War of Attrition: 1969-70War of Attrition: 1969-70

Constant attacks on Israel which Constant attacks on Israel which consequently resulted in consequently resulted in expulsion from Jordan after expulsion from Jordan after Black SeptemberBlack September

Actions (cont.)Actions (cont.)

► Relocation to Lebnanon: Relocation to Lebnanon: October 1970October 1970 Establish a state with the Establish a state with the

state of Lebanon which state of Lebanon which disturbs Israeldisturbs Israel

Exacerbates the confessional Exacerbates the confessional nature of Lebanon by nature of Lebanon by introducing Israeli support for introducing Israeli support for the Maronites culminating in the Maronites culminating in Civil War (1975-90)Civil War (1975-90)

Israel drives PLO out of Israel drives PLO out of Lebanon in 1982Lebanon in 1982

► PLO in Tunis: 1982-93PLO in Tunis: 1982-93 1991-Madrid Conference 1991-Madrid Conference

starts peace processstarts peace process

Actions (cont.)Actions (cont.)► Intifadas: 1987 and 2000Intifadas: 1987 and 2000

Palestinian uprisings not sponsored or Palestinian uprisings not sponsored or planned by PLOplanned by PLO

►Oslo Accords: 1993Oslo Accords: 1993 PLO headquartered in Ramallah, West BankPLO headquartered in Ramallah, West Bank PLO formally recognizes Israel and vice PLO formally recognizes Israel and vice

versa versa

Current PresenceCurrent Presence

► After his 2004 death, Arafat is succeeded After his 2004 death, Arafat is succeeded by Mahmoud Abbasby Mahmoud Abbas

►Hamas takes control of Gaza in 2007 Hamas takes control of Gaza in 2007 elections while Fatah retains control of the elections while Fatah retains control of the West BankWest Bank

SourcesSources► Mattar, Philip. "Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)." Mattar, Philip. "Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)." Encyclopedia of the Encyclopedia of the

Modern Modern Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa. Ed. Philip Mattar. Vol. 3. 2nd ed. New . Ed. Philip Mattar. Vol. 3. 2nd ed. New York: York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 1772-1776. Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 1772-1776. Gale Virtual Reference Gale Virtual Reference LibraryLibrary. Gale. . Gale. Upper Arlington High School. 15 Sept. 2009 Upper Arlington High School. 15 Sept. 2009 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=uppe28149>.<http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=uppe28149>.

► Nassar, Jamal R. "Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)." World Book Nassar, Jamal R. "Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)." World Book Advanced. World Advanced. World Book, 2009. Web.  15 Sept. 2009. Book, 2009. Web.  15 Sept. 2009.