Palestinian liberation organization

Palestinian liberation organization

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has been the embodiment of

the Palestinian national movement. It is a broad national front, or an

umbrella organization, comprised of numerous organizations of the

resistance movement, political parties, popular organizations, and

independent personalities and figures from all sectors of life. The Arab

Summit in 1974 recognized the PLO as the "sole and legitimate

representative of the Palestinian people" and since then the PLO has

represented Palestine at the United Nations, the Movement of Non-Aligned

Countries (NAM), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and in

many other fora. In addition to its broad national and political goals, the

PLO has dealt with numerous tasks with regard to the life of the

Palestinian people in their main communities and throughout the world

through the establishment of several institutions in such realms as health,

education and social services. As such, the PLO is more than a national

liberation movement striving to achieve the national goals of the

Palestinian people, including the establishment of a Palestinian state with

Jerusalem as its capital.

The PLO was established in 1964 with Arab support. At that time, the

PLO was headed by Mr. Ahmed Al-Shukairy and, since then, has undergone

significant changes in its composition, leading bodies, political

orientation, and even the locales of its headquarters. The leading bodies

of the PLO are the Palestine National Council (PNC), the Central Council,

and the Executive Committee. Political pluralism has remained a defining

feature of the organization, as have democratic internal dialogue and

attempts to reach decisions by consensus in its bodies, recognizing the

presence of many differing views and competing alliances throughout

different periods. In 1968, the organization witnessed the beginning of the

engagement of the Feda’iyeen organizations (armed struggle organizations),

particularly Fateh. In 1969, Yasser Arafat, leader of Fateh, became the

Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO and, in 1971, he became the

General Commander of the Palestine Forces. His name has been synonymous

with the PLO and with the Palestinian national movement.

Since the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and

the convening of general elections in January 1996 in the Occupied

Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, which were preceded by the

return of most Palestinian leaders to their homeland, the Authority’s role

and responsibilities continue to increase, in some ways at the expense of

the PLO. In the Palestinian territory, as well as outside, Islamic groups

remain outside the PLO, which traditionally has not mixed religion and

politics.

In general, the current Palestinian situation is constantly changing

and progressing towards the establishment of a state and the building of a

Palestinian democracy. These changes will affect the PLO, but there is no

doubt that, at least for some time, the PLO will continue its role as a

very important Palestinian structure for the Palestinian people in the

Occupied Territories, in the refugee camps, and throughout the world.

Structure:

I. Palestine National Council

The PNC, which is the highest decision-making body of the PLO, is

considered to be the parliament of all Palestinians inside and outside of

the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. The PNC normally

sets PLO policies, elects the Executive Committee and makes the necessary

changes in its own membership, as well as changes to the Palestine National

Charter (a special meeting is required) and to the Fundamental Law of the

organization. The PNC also elects a speaker, two deputies and a secretary,

who make up the Bureau of the Council. The Council has its own standing

committees for various aspects of its work, such as its legal and political

committees. The composition of the PNC represents all sectors of the

Palestinian community worldwide and includes numerous organizations of the

resistance movement, political parties, popular organizations (each of the

above is represented by specific quotas) and independent personalities and

figures from all sectors of life, including intellectuals, religious

leaders and businessmen. The current membership of the PNC stands at X,

including all of the 88 elected members of the Palestine Legislative

Council (PLC).

II. Central Council

The Central Council, which was established by the PNC in 1973, is the

second leading body of the PLO. The Council functions as an intermediary

body between the PNC and the Executive Committee. At present, the

membership stands at 124, including 15 representatives of the PLC. The last

meeting of the Central Council took place in Gaza on 10 December 1998.

III. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is the daily leading body of the PLO and it

represents the organization at the international level. The Committee is

elected by the members of PNC and it is responsible to the PNC. Its main

function is to execute the policies and decisions set out by the PNC and

the Central Council. The Committee is also responsible for adopting a

budget and for overseeing the functioning of the departments of the PLO,

the responsibilities of which are distributed among its members. Decisions

of the Committee are taken by a simple majority. Its membership stands at

18, including its Chairman.

IV. Palestine National Fund

The Fund is managed by a board of directors and by a chairman who is

elected by the PNC and who automatically serves on the Executive Committee.

The other members of the board are appointed by the Executive Committee,

with a maximum of 11 members. Revenues for the fund come from two sources -

a fixed tax on the wages earned by all Palestinians living in Arab

countries and collected by those respective governments and from financial

contributions by Arab governments and peoples, an amount that in the past

was substantial.

V. Palestine Liberation Army

The Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) was established as the official

military branch of the PLO in 1964, in accordance with the resolutions of

the 1st Palestinian Conference (the 1st PNC). At that time, three brigades

were established: Ein Jalut in Gaza and Egypt, Kadissiyah in Iraq, and

Hiteen in Syria. In practice, those brigades were dominated by the general

command of the armed forces of their respective host countries. Over time,

however, changes were made to the PLA’s structure, including, for instance,

the establishment in 1968 of commando units in Gaza to fight against the

Israeli occupation, known as Kuwat al-Tahrir Al-Sha’biya (Popular

Liberation Troops). Recently, with the establishment of the Palestine

National Authority (PNA), important parts of those brigades in Egypt and

Jordan were absorbed into the PNA security forces.

VI. Departments

The Organization has established departments that are responsible for

several important spheres of work, each headed by a member of the Executive

Committee. The departments include the Political Department, the Department

of Returnees, the Department of Culture and Information, and the Department

of Popular Organizations. Of these, the Political Department is the

largest. It directs and supervises the work of Palestinian representation

abroad, including Palestinian embassies, missions and offices. The

Political Department also represents the PLO and the State of Palestine at

international conferences, such as those of the Movement of Non-Aligned

Countries (NAM) and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). (For

the addresses of all embassies look under the Directory of Palestinian

Embassies & Missions for the addresses of all embassies).

VII. Palestinian Institutions

The institutions of the PLO have achieved significant accomplishments

through the myriad of social, economic and health services that they

provide to Palestinian communities. Among the most important of these

institutions are the following:

• Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS): Established in 1968 in Jordan,

the PRCS provides medical and health care to the Palestinian people. The

PRCS started out with only several small clinics and grew into a

substantial medical network with hospitals and medical centers throughout

the region.

• Palestinian Martyrs Works Society (SAMED): SAMED provided, throughout

an important period, the economic infrastructure of the Palestinian

community. It had been established in 1970 originally to provide vocational

training to the children of Palestinian martyrs.

• Sons of Martyrs: This organization owns several important facilities

in the region that take care of the children of Palestinian martyrs.