PLO and Fatah

 

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is a Palestinian nationalist coalition internationally recognized as the official representative of the Palestinian people. Founded in 1964, it serves as an umbrella political organization representing various factions, and it functions as the dominant political force within the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers parts of the West Bank. 

An overview of its history, structure, and shifting roles includes the following key areas:

Key Historical Milestones

• Foundation (1964): The PLO was established during an Arab League summit in Cairo to centralize leadership among various Palestinian resistance groups. 
• The Rise of Fatah (1969): Following the 1967 Six-Day War, more independent militant groups took control. Yasser Arafat, leader of the Fatah faction, became chairman and established Fatah as the dominant force. 
• International Recognition (1974): The Arab League and the United Nations General Assembly recognized the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people". 
• Oslo Accords (1993): The PLO signed a historic peace agreement with Israel. In the process, the PLO recognized Israel's right to exist and renounced terrorism. Israel subsequently recognized the PLO as the official representative of the Palestinians. 
• Establishment of the PA (1994): In coordination with Israel under the Oslo framework, the PLO established the Palestinian Authority to manage self-rule in parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank. 

Structure and Leadership

The PLO governs through three primary internal bodies outlined in its Basic Law: 

• Palestine National Council (PNC): The highest authority and legislative body, representing Palestinians globally. 
• PLO Central Council (PCC): A 124-member decision-making body serving as an intermediary between the PNC and executive leadership. 
• Executive Committee (EC): An 18-member body handling daily international affairs and budget implementation. The EC elects the PLO Chairman. 
• Current Leadership: Following Yasser Arafat's death in 2004, Mahmoud Abbas assumed the chairmanship and continues to lead the organization. 

Current Status and Political Landscape

While the PLO remains the internationally recognized diplomatic representative of Palestine, its day-to-day governance role has largely been subsumed by the offices of the Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank city of Al-Bireh. 

The organization is distinct from Islamist groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are not members of the PLO umbrella. Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, remains a major political rival to the Fatah-dominated PLO.