Yasser Arafat – The Plo Essay, Research Paper

Palestine Liberation Organization

Leader: Yasser Arafat

The PLO: As a “umbrella” of sorts for other different Palestine terrorist organizations, the PLO has performed both military and political actions. Militarily, the organization has been involved in several actions against both Israeli troops and against innocent civilians. Not only has the PLO taken actions against the Israelis, but of many other nationalities. The PLO has denied responsibility for many of their actions.

Organization: The PLO is made up of three bodies, the Executive Committee, exercising central control, the Central Committee, the counsel, and the Palestine National Council, which was earlier the Palestinian people’s parliament in exile.

Example of Actions:

November 1985– Egyptian plane hijacked and forced to land at Malta; 8 killed, 7 injured.

During Egyptian rescue operation; 58 killed, 23 injured.

The PLO: Purpose and Formation

Between 1948 and 1964 the Palestinians had no direction. They were leaderless and unorganized. Their cause was argued for them by others. The Arab states took the lead in fighting against Israel while the Palestinians played a small role. This situation changed after the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed in 1964. Organizations that had formed secretly before the PLO united with the group and strengthened the PLO. It later became an “umbrella organization” with which all these groups were associated.

The main goal of these organizations was the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. In the charter of the PLO it says, “Palestine is the homeland of the Arab-Palestinian people; it is an indivisible part of the Arab homeland, and the Palestinian people are an integral part of the Arab nation.” The charter declares that the Palestinians have “material, spiritual, and historical connections with Palestine.” It denies any ties that the Jews have to Palestine. “Claims of historical or religious ties of Jews with Palestine are incompatible with the facts of history…” The PLO believes that Israel should cease to exist as a Jewish state and be replaced by a Palestinian–Arab state ruled by the PLO. The PLO has tried to achieve this goal through terrorism and armed struggle. The PLO has also publicized the cause of the Palestinians worldwide in order to receive international support for the creation of a Palestinian state. In 1969 Yasser Arafat named chairman of the PLO. Since 1973 Arafat has called for the acceptance of the PLO as a government-in-exile.

The Palestine Liberation Organization believes that because of it’s historical ties to the land, it should be granted immunity as it’s own country, Palestine. The organization wishes to remove all Jews from their land and to receive parts of the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and the Golan Heights. Most of all, the Palestinians would like to be recognized as their own nation, using the PLO as their government.