Palestine Liberation Organization

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is a central institution in modern Middle Eastern politics and Palestinian nationalism. Since its establishment in 1964, it has functioned as the internationally recognized representative body of the Palestinian people, shaping diplomatic initiatives, armed struggle, and the pursuit of statehood. Its role encompasses political representation of Palestinians in the occupied territories and the diaspora, and it maintains a prominent position within regional and global diplomacy through its observer status at the United Nations.

Origins and Founding Framework

The PLO emerged in 1964 following a decision of the Arab League to create a unified body representing Palestinian interests. This initiative culminated in the convening of the Palestinian National Council in Jerusalem in May 1964, after which the organization was formally established in June. Its founding objectives centred on Arab unity and the liberation of the territory of former Mandatory Palestine. The early PLO Charter emphasised the replacement of the State of Israel with a unified Arab entity and promoted armed struggle as a primary means of achieving national goals.
In its formative years the PLO relied on guerrilla warfare, launching its first operation in 1965 with an attack on Israel’s National Water Carrier. Operating from bases in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and Egypt, the PLO’s factions engaged in cross-border raids and developed a strategy that combined political mobilisation with armed resistance.

Structure, Recognition and Political Authority

Today the PLO is represented by the Palestinian Authority, headquartered in the West Bank, and it retains international legitimacy as the official representative of the Palestinian people. It obtained permanent observer status at the United Nations in 1974, facilitated by key General Assembly resolutions that acknowledged its role in articulating Palestinian national aspirations.
The Oslo I Accord of 1993 marked a turning point in the organization’s political trajectory. During the negotiations, the PLO recognised the right of the State of Israel to exist, accepted United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 and renounced violence. Israel, in turn, recognised the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Nevertheless, subsequent years saw tensions between political commitments and actions on the ground, including PLO-linked militant engagement during the Second Intifada (2000–2005).
In 2018 the Palestinian Central Council announced a suspension of recognition of Israel, reflecting frustration with the stagnation of the peace process and concerns over settlement expansion. Despite this, the PLO continues to participate in diplomatic channels and maintains a central symbolic role in Palestinian governance and identity.

Armed Struggle and Militant Activities

Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, several factions within the PLO engaged in attacks targeting Israeli military and civilian sites. Some groups also carried out operations abroad, contributing to international perceptions of the organization as a militant entity. Key incidents involved:

• The Avivim school bus bombing of 1970 by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
• Hijackings in 1970 by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which precipitated the Black September crisis in Jordan.
• The Munich massacre of 1972, conducted by the Black September Organization.
• The Maalot massacre of 1974, in which DFLP militants seized a school, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.
• The Savoy Hotel attack of 1975 and the Coastal Road massacre of 1978, both carried out by factions associated with Fatah.

The United States designated the PLO as a terrorist organisation in 1987, although presidential waivers from 1988 onward enabled continued diplomatic engagement.

Conflict and Repositioning in Jordan and Lebanon

Between 1967 and 1970 the PLO participated in armed confrontations with Israel from its strongholds in Jordan, contributing to a broader War of Attrition. Israel responded with raids on PLO bases, including the Battle of Karameh in 1968. Tensions between Palestinian groups and the Jordanian government escalated into the events known as Black September in 1970, culminating in the expulsion of PLO forces to Lebanon in 1971.
Lebanon subsequently became a principal base of operations. The PLO entrenched itself in refugee camps in the south and Beirut, influencing local politics and conducting operations against Israel. The complex sectarian dynamics of Lebanon and retaliatory incursions by Israel contributed to instability in the 1970s. The outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975 further entangled the PLO in regional conflicts. Notable was the involvement of PLO-affiliated groups in episodes such as the attack on the town of Damour in 1976, carried out in the broader context of reciprocal violence between militias.
During this period Yasser Arafat increasingly promoted diplomatic avenues, exemplified by the Ten Point Programme of 1974. However, internal opposition from factions within the PLO and external rejection by certain Arab and Western policymakers complicated efforts toward a negotiated settlement.
The 1982 Lebanon War followed an attack on an Israeli diplomat attributed to Palestinian militants operating in Lebanon. Israel’s invasion, facilitated by allied Lebanese Christian militias, led to a prolonged military advance into Beirut and the eventual relocation of PLO headquarters out of the country. After this point, the nature of the Lebanese conflict shifted, and Palestinian armed activity became one of several competing military dynamics.

Diplomatic Evolution and International Legitimacy

Despite periods of intense conflict, the PLO gradually gained diplomatic recognition. United Nations General Assembly resolutions in the mid-1970s highlighted its status as the representative of the Palestinian people, paving the way for its participation in international deliberations on the question of Palestine. The organisation’s efforts to pursue a two-state solution gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, though they faced resistance from various sides.
The Venice Declaration of 1980 by the European Economic Community underscored the growing international consensus regarding Palestinian rights, while internal moderation within the PLO raised hopes for political progress. However, divisions inside the Palestinian movement and the broader geopolitical landscape made sustained negotiation difficult.

Contemporary Position and Legacy

As the governing body of the Palestinian national movement, the PLO remains central to the political aspirations of Palestinians worldwide. It continues to function as an umbrella organization encompassing multiple factions, most prominently Fatah. The historical legacy of the PLO reflects both its role in asserting Palestinian self-determination and the controversies surrounding its armed activities.