palestinian organizations

Palestine Liberation Organization: Founded in 1964, the PLO was established with the goal of "liberating Palestine" through armed struggle. Its first leader was Ahmed Shukeiri, but the organization gained prominence under Yasser Arafat, who became chairman in 1969.

Objectives:

  • Initially, the PLO's goal was to create a Palestinian state over the entire former British Mandate of Palestine, including present-day Israel, rejecting Jewish national claims. The 1968 revision of the Palestinian National Charter explicitly called for the elimination of Israel.  

  • In 1974, the PLO adopted the 'Ten Point Program,' allowing for a Palestinian authority on any 'liberated' land as a tactical step toward their ultimate goal of eliminating Israel, not as a genuine endorsement of a two-state solution. The program reaffirmed armed struggle and did not recognize Israel’s right to exist, maintaining the PLO’s core rejection of Jewish sovereignty.

  • In 1988, the PLO declared Palestinian independence and recognized UN Resolutions 242 and 338, which implicitly acknowledged Israel’s existence.

  • In 1993, Yasser Arafat pledged to recognize Israel’s right to exist and renounce terrorism in a letter to Yitzhak Rabin as part of the Oslo Accords, but this commitment proved hollow. PLO factions like the PFLP continued deadly attacks—such as the 2001 assassination of Israeli minister Rehavam Ze’evi—and Arafat’s failure to stop violence, including during the Second Intifada (2000-2005), demonstrated that the PLO did not fully abandon its terrorist agenda, undermining trust in the peace process.

Leadership: 

  • Yasser Arafat led the PLO from 1969 until his death in 2004. 

  • Mahmoud Abbas succeeded Arafat and remains the current chairman.

Recognition:  

  • The PLO is recognized by the Arab League, the United Nations, and many countries as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

  • The 1993 Oslo Accords led to international engagement with the PLO as a negotiating partner with Israel.

Structure:  

  • The PLO functions as an umbrella organization comprising multiple factions. Fatah is the largest and most dominant faction. Other factions include the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), both of which have been involved in armed conflict and are designated as terrorist organizations by several countries.


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Palestinian Authority: The PA was created following the Oslo Accords (1993-1995) as an interim self-governing body to administer parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip until a final status agreement could be reached. However, no final agreement was ever reached.

Purpose:  

  • The PA was granted governance over Areas A and B of the West Bank, while Israel retained full control over Area C.  

  • It was responsible for civil administration and security in the territories under its jurisdiction, though its powers remain heavily restricted by Israeli oversight and military presence.

Leadership:

  • Yasser Arafat was the first President of the PA from its establishment until his death in 2004.  

  • Mahmoud Abbas was elected president in 2005 and remains in power, though elections have not been held since 2006. His rule has been criticized for lacking democratic legitimacy.

Governance & Political Divisions:  

  • The PA has legislative, executive, and judicial branches, but its control has been weakened due to political fragmentation.  

  • In 2006, Hamas won Palestinian parliamentary elections, leading to a violent split with Fatah in 2007. Hamas forcibly took control of Gaza, while the PA (under Fatah) retained control over parts of the West Bank.

  • Today, the PA governs parts of the West Bank, while Hamas rules Gaza independently.

Challenges Facing the PA:

  • The PA’s authority is heavily restricted, as Israeli security forces maintain control over large parts of the West Bank (Area C).

  • It faces financial difficulties, relying on aid from the European Union, the United States, and Arab states to function.

  • Internal legitimacy is weak due to corruption allegations, suppression of political opposition, and its failure to hold elections.

  • PA security forces rely heavily on coordination with Israel to suppress Hamas and other threats in the West Bank, a dependency that highlights the PA’s inability to govern independently. Many Palestinians condemn this as collaboration with Israel, accusing the PA of prioritizing Israeli security interests over Palestinian unity or resistance.

Current Status:

  • The PA remains the internationally recognized governing body in the West Bank, but its effectiveness is frequently questioned due to ongoing conflicts, economic issues, Israeli restrictions, and internal political divisions.  

  • Many Palestinians view the PA as weak and corrupt, while others see it as a necessary governing entity in the absence of a viable alternative.

The PLO, founded in 1964 to dismantle Israel, remains the Palestinians’ international representative. In 1994, it created the Palestinian Authority (PA) under the Oslo Accords to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza temporarily. The PA, reliant on Israeli cooperation and plagued by corruption, answers to the PLO. Despite Oslo’s 1993 recognition of Israel, PLO factions like PFLP continued attacks (e.g., 2001 Ze’evi killing), casting doubt on its commitment to peace