Palestinian Liberation Organisation

Michael SubritzkyIndigenous Liberation Studies

Bachelor of Applied Social Science Year 3Waikato Institute of Technology

How did the PLO originate?

The Palestinian cause was lobbied by other Arab nations

Formed 1964 by the Arab League of NationsRecognised as the ‘sole representative of

Palestine’

PLO StructurePurpose “The Liberation of Palestine” through armed

struggle

The Palestinian National Charter Article 7:

“That there is a Palestinian community and that it has material, spiritual, and historical connection with Palestine are indisputable facts. It is a national duty to bring up individual Palestinians in an Arab revolutionary manner. All means of information and education must be adopted in order to acquaint the Palestinian with his country in the most profound manner, both spiritual and material, that is possible. He must be prepared for the armed struggle and ready to sacrifice his wealth and his life in order to win back his homeland and bring about its liberation.”

PLO Structure (continued)

The Palestinian National Charter Article 9:

Armed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine. This is the overall strategy, not merely a tactical phase. The Palestinian Arab people assert their absolute determination and firm resolution to continue their armed struggle and to work for an armed popular revolution for the liberation of their country and their return to it . They also assert their right to normal life in Palestine and to exercise their right to self-determination and sovereignty over it.

PLO Structure (continued)

Factions

Fatah – Founded by Yasir ArafatPFLP – Popular Front for the Liberation of PalestineDFLP – Democratic Front for the Liberation of

PalestinePSF – Popular Struggle Front Although each faction is independent, they remained under the PLO umbrella.

PLO Structure (continued)

Leaders

Palestinian National Council (PNC) – executive committee

Ahmad Shuqayri 1964-67

Yasir Arafat 1969-2004

Mahmoud Abbas 2004- Present

World Map

Middle East Map

Shrinking Palestine

What are the major roots of the Palestinian-Israeli

conflict?ReligionZionism Israel’s Settlement PolicyImpact of Israeli Settlements and Economics

Religion

Ishmael Isaac

Abraham

Look up the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be. Genesis 15:5

The true heir inherits the land of Canaan as outlined in Numbers 31:1-2

Zionism

ZionismZionism is a nationalist and political movement of Jews and Jewish culture that supports the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the territory defined as the historic Land of Israel (roughly corresponding to Palestine, Canaan or the Holy Land)

Zionism Jewish Nationalists and rebirth of Jewish StateReclamation of Biblical land1917 Zionists lobbied British1939 only 75,000 migrants allowed over following 5yrPalestine to be independent and political power based on

population ratio of Jew & Palestinian1945 Zionists revolted – 2:1 ratioBritish withdrew leaving admin to UN1947 UN divided land, allocating 45% to Jews1948 war resulted in 80% of land to Jews

Israel’s Settlement PolicyGrants SubsidiesTax incentivesSecurity acquisitionsUnclaimed land seized6% pop growth per year

Impact on the Palestinians UnemploymentDecline in tradeSevere povertyRefugees in Jordan

Israeli Colonialism No investment into Palestinian economyShaped the Territories to their own needsPalestinians = low wage labour forcePalestinian trade mostly with IsraelRegulation of agriculture, industry, investments

= multiple layers of taxCreated Palestinian dependency on IsraelCheckpoints, curfews, and security barriers

PLO ResponseShootings, kidnappings1987 Peaceful protests – not totally peaceful

howeverYasar Arafat praised the “children of the stones”Guerilla tactics against settlers & IDF2000 violent uprising and escalated IDF responseSuicide bombers featured11 Sept 2001

Conclusion

ReferencesArens, O., & Kaufman, E. (2012). The Potential Impact of Palestinian Nonviolent Struggle on Israel: Preliminary Lessons and Projections for the Future. Middle East Journal , 66 (2), 231-252.

De Waart, P. J. (2007). Israel's Settlement Policy Stumbling Block in the Middle East Peace Process. Leiden Journal of International Law , 825-839.

Drey, P. R. (2002). The Role of Hagar in Genesis 16. Andrews University Seminary Studies , 40 (2), 179-195.

Farsakh, L. (2011). The One State Solution and the Israeli-Palestine Conflict: Palesitinian Challenges and Prospects. Middle East Journal , 65 (1), 55-71.

Naqib, F. M. (2003). Economic Aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: The Collapse of the Oslo Accord. Journal of International Development , 15 (4), 499-512.

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). (2016). In Compton's by Britannica. Retrieved from http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-309059/Palestine-Liberation-Organizatio (The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, 2016)n-PLO

palistinefacts.org. (n.d.). Founding the Palistinian Liberation Organisation. Retrieved May 8, 2016, from palestinefacts.org: www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1948to1967_plo_backgd.php

Reuveny, R. (2008). The Last Colonialist: Israel in the Occupied Territories since 1967. The Independant Review , 12 (3), 325-374.

 

References (Ctd)

Rowley, C. K., & Taylor, J. (2006). The Israel and Palestine Land Settlement Problem, 1948-2005: An Analytical History. Public Choice (128), 77-90.

The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. (2016). Palistinian Liberation Organization PLO: History & Overview. Retrieved May 8, 2016, from Jewish

Virtual Library: www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Terrorism/plo.html

Zeep, I. G. (2000). A Muslim Primer: beginner's guide to Islam, (Vol. 2). University of Arkansaa Press.