Palestine Liberation Organization

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic: {{Audio|ArPLO.ogg|Munazzamat al-Tahrir al-Filastiniyyah}} منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية ) is a political and paramilitary organization of Palestinians dedicated to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the region historically known as Palestine. In 1969, Yasser Arafat became the Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee and remained so until his death in 2004. He was succeeded by Mahmoud Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen.)

Overview

Founded in 1964, the PLO has a nominal legislative body, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), but most actual political power and decisions are controlled by the PLO Executive Committee, made up of 15 people elected by the PNC. The PLO incorporates a range of generally secular ideologies of different Palestinian movements committed to the struggle for Palestinian independence and "liberation", hence the name of the organization. In 1974, the PNC approved the Ten Point Program formulated by Fatah's leaders which calls for the establishment of a national authority over any piece of liberated Palestinian land, and to actively pursue the establishment of a secular democratic binational state in Israel/Palestine under which all citizens will enjoy equal status and rights regardless of race, sex, or religion. The Ten Point Program was considered the first attempt by PLO at a peaceful resolution, though the ultimate goal was "completing the liberation of all Palestinian territory, and as a step along the road to comprehensive Arab unity".http://www.palestine-un.org/plo/doc_one.html The Palestine Liberation Organization is considered the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and holds a permanent observer seat in the UN General Assembly.

Related Topics:
1964 - Palestinian National Council - PLO Executive Committee - Fatah - Israel - UN General Assembly

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