Palestine Liberation Organisation

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) is a political and paramilitary body established in 1964 to represent the Palestinian people and their national aspirations. Recognised internationally as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, the PLO has been central to the Palestinian national movement, encompassing both the armed struggle for liberation and the diplomatic efforts toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Historical Background

The origins of the PLO are rooted in the growing Palestinian nationalism that emerged after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, which resulted in the creation of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians—a catastrophe known as the Nakba (“catastrophe”). The ensuing refugee crisis and loss of homeland led to a surge in political activism among Palestinians across the Middle East.
The idea of forming a unified Palestinian organisation gained momentum in the early 1960s, as Arab states sought to coordinate their policies concerning Palestine. Consequently, the Arab League, under Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s influence, established the PLO at a summit in Cairo in 1964. Its creation was formalised with the adoption of the Palestinian National Charter, outlining its objectives to liberate Palestine through armed struggle and to establish a sovereign state.

Founding and Early Structure

The first chairman of the PLO was Ahmad Shukeiri, a Palestinian diplomat backed by Egypt. The organisation’s structure was designed to function as a government-in-exile, comprising several key bodies:

• The Palestinian National Council (PNC): The PLO’s legislative body, often referred to as the “parliament in exile.”
• The Executive Committee: Responsible for implementing PNC decisions and managing daily affairs.
• The Palestine Liberation Army (PLA): The military wing intended to carry out armed resistance.

Initially, the PLO operated under the significant influence of Arab states, particularly Egypt, which sought to use it as an instrument within broader regional politics. However, this dynamic changed after 1967.

Impact of the Six-Day War (1967)

The Six-Day War of June 1967, in which Israel defeated Arab forces and occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights, transformed the political landscape of the Middle East. The war discredited many Arab regimes and intensified Palestinian determination to pursue their liberation independently.
Following the defeat, Palestinian guerrilla groups, most notably Fatah, founded by Yasser Arafat, gained prominence. By 1969, Fatah had taken control of the PLO, and Arafat became its Chairman, a position he would hold for over three decades. Under his leadership, the PLO evolved from an Arab-sponsored organisation into an independent national movement representing Palestinian interests directly.

Armed Struggle and Political Strategy

During the 1970s, the PLO pursued a dual strategy of armed struggle and international diplomacy. Its military operations were directed primarily against Israeli targets, both within and outside Israel, and aimed to draw attention to the Palestinian cause. The organisation’s principal factions included:

• Fatah – the dominant and moderate faction led by Arafat.
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – a Marxist-Leninist faction led by George Habash.
• Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) – a leftist faction advocating socialist principles.

The PLO’s armed activities included guerrilla warfare, cross-border raids, and hijackings, actions that attracted international attention but also controversy. Israel and several Western countries labelled the PLO a terrorist organisation during this period.
The organisation was expelled from Jordan in 1970–71 following the conflict known as Black September, after clashes with Jordanian forces. Subsequently, the PLO relocated its headquarters to Beirut, Lebanon, from where it continued operations until the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 forced its relocation to Tunis, Tunisia.

International Recognition

Despite its militant origins, the PLO gradually gained international legitimacy through diplomatic efforts. In 1974, the Arab League declared the PLO the “sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.” That same year, the United Nations General Assembly granted the PLO observer status, allowing Arafat to address the Assembly—a symbolic victory for Palestinian diplomacy.
The Palestinian National Charter was partially amended in 1974, shifting emphasis from total liberation of all of historical Palestine to the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, reflecting growing pragmatism within the movement.

The Oslo Accords and Palestinian Authority

The most significant diplomatic achievement of the PLO came with the Oslo Accords of 1993, negotiated secretly in Norway and signed between the PLO and Israel. Under the agreement:

• The PLO recognised the State of Israel and renounced violence.
• Israel recognised the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
• Both parties agreed to work towards a two-state solution, initiating limited Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip through the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Yasser Arafat returned to the Palestinian territories in 1994 to head the newly formed PA, marking a historic transition from exile to governance. The Oslo process, however, faced severe challenges, including mutual distrust, ongoing Israeli settlement expansion, and outbreaks of violence such as the Second Intifada (2000–2005).

Leadership and Factionalism

Since Arafat’s death in 2004, the leadership of the PLO and Palestinian politics more broadly has been dominated by Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), who succeeded him as both PLO Chairman and President of the Palestinian Authority.
The PLO’s dominance has been challenged by internal divisions, most notably with the rise of Hamas, an Islamist movement that emerged during the First Intifada (1987) and rejected the Oslo Accords. Hamas’ control of the Gaza Strip since 2007 has deepened political fragmentation, leaving the PLO-led Palestinian Authority governing the West Bank while Hamas administers Gaza.
Despite these divisions, the PLO remains internationally recognised as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in diplomatic and multilateral forums.

International Relations and Recognition

The PLO continues to engage in international diplomacy through its missions and observer offices around the world. Its major achievements include:

• The 1988 Declaration of Independence, issued in Algiers, which proclaimed the State of Palestine and received recognition from over 100 countries.
• Ongoing representation of Palestine at the United Nations, where Palestine was granted non-member observer state status in 2012.
• Continued advocacy for a two-state solution, an end to Israeli occupation, and recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

The organisation also participates in multilateral negotiations and regional forums, including the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Challenges in the 21st Century

In recent decades, the PLO has faced a series of complex challenges:

• Internal fragmentation, primarily between Fatah and Hamas, weakening Palestinian unity.
• Stalled peace process, with the Oslo framework largely paralysed.
• Israeli settlement expansion and restrictions in the West Bank undermining prospects for statehood.
• Declining legitimacy and popular support, as many Palestinians view the PLO leadership as ineffective or disconnected from the realities on the ground.

The absence of substantive negotiations and continuing humanitarian crises in Gaza and the West Bank have compounded these difficulties, forcing the organisation to reconsider its strategy and diplomatic approach.

Historical and Political Significance

The Palestine Liberation Organisation remains one of the most influential political entities in the modern Middle East. Its evolution from an armed liberation movement to a diplomatic actor reflects the broader trajectory of Palestinian nationalism — from resistance and exile to governance and international diplomacy.
The PLO’s establishment institutionalised the Palestinian national identity, providing a political and symbolic platform for a people dispersed across borders. Its recognition by the United Nations and other global bodies marked a turning point in the international community’s engagement with the Palestinian question.