Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is a political and paramilitary organization regarded by the Arab League since October 1974 as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people."[1] It formally is an umbrella organization that includes many generally secular organizations such as Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The PLO was considered by the United States and Israel to be a terrorist organization until PLO accepted a two-state solution and rejected "violence and terrorism". The 1993 Oslo Accords granted the Palestinians right to limited self-government in certain areas.
History
Founded by a meeting of 422 Palestinian national figures in Jerusalem in May 1964 following an earlier decision of the Arab League, its goal was the liberation of Palestine through armed struggle.[2] The original PLO Charter (issued on 28 May 1964[3]) stated that "Palestine with its boundaries that existed at the time of the British mandate is an integral regional unit" and sought to "prohibit... the existence and activity" of Zionism.[4] It also called for a right of return and self-determination for Palestinians. Palestinian statehood was not mentioned, although in 1974 the PLO called for an independent state in the territory of Mandate Palestine.[5] In 1988, the PLO officially adopted a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side contingent on specific terms such as making East Jerusalem capital of the Palestinian state and giving Palestinians right of return.[6]
In 1993, PLO chairman Yasser Arafat recognized the State of Israel in an official letter to its prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin. In response to Arafat's letter, Israel recognized the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Arafat was the Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee from 1969 until his death in 2004. He was succeeded by Mahmoud Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen).
The label of "terrorist organization" has been disputed, as the PLO is the only organization to recognize Israel, and has not attacked Israel so far. Related groups, such as Hamas and Fatah have, but this group has not acted in suicide bombings.[7]
The PLO has lost influence due to argued causes such as dissatisfaction with the PLO administration, Israeli efforts to weaken it and increase divisions among Palestinians, and increasing religiousness among Palestinians and in Muslim countries. Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections and the Gaza strip is now controlled by Hamas.
References
- ↑ Madiha Rashid al Madfai, Jordan, the United States and the Middle East Peace Process, 1974-1991, Cambridge Middle East Library, Cambridge University Press (1993). ISBN 0521415233. p. 21:"On 28 October 1974, the seventh Arab summit conference held in Rabat designated the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and reaffirmed their right to establish an independent state."
- ↑ Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Palestinian National Covenant
- ↑ Helena Cobban,The Palestinian Liberation Organisation(Cambridge University Press, 1984) p.30
- ↑ Articles 2 and 23 of the Palestinian National Covenant
- ↑ The PNC Program of 1974, June 8, 1974. On the site of MidEastWeb for Coexistence R.A. - Middle East Resources. Page includes commentary. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
- ↑ William L. Cleveland, A History of the Modern Middle East, Westview Press (2004). ISBN 0813340489.
- ↑ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE1DA1F3CF93BA25752C0A96E948260&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
