Popular Front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Liberation of

Palestine (PFLP)Palestine (PFLP) By: By:

Daniel AlejandroDaniel AlejandroBrandon Halsey Brandon Halsey

Renee LavoieRenee LavoieIvan SanchezIvan Sanchez

History of PFLPHistory of PFLP At one time affiliated with the At one time affiliated with the

PLO, the Popular Front for the PLO, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) is a Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) is a Marxist-Leninist group founded in Marxist-Leninist group founded in 1967 by George Habash. 1967 by George Habash.

The PFLP joined the Alliance of The PFLP joined the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (APF) to Palestinian Forces (APF) to oppose the Declaration of oppose the Declaration of Principles signed in 1993 and Principles signed in 1993 and suspended participation in the suspended participation in the PLO. PLO.

The PFLP broke away from the The PFLP broke away from the APF, along with the DFLP, in 1996 APF, along with the DFLP, in 1996 over ideological differences. PFLP over ideological differences. PFLP officers took part in meetings officers took part in meetings with Arafat's Fatah party and PLO with Arafat's Fatah party and PLO representatives in 1999 to representatives in 1999 to discuss national unity and the discuss national unity and the reinvigoration of the PLO but the reinvigoration of the PLO but the PFLP continues to oppose currentPFLP continues to oppose current negotiations with Israel.negotiations with Israel.

History of PFLP Cont.History of PFLP Cont. The PFLP does not view the The PFLP does not view the

Palestinian struggle as religious, Palestinian struggle as religious, seeing it instead as a broader seeing it instead as a broader revolution against Western revolution against Western imperialism. imperialism.

The PFLP is estimated to have The PFLP is estimated to have approximately 800 members, approximately 800 members, and has operated in Syria, and has operated in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, West Bank, and Lebanon, Israel, West Bank, and Gaza. Gaza.

The group earned a reputation The group earned a reputation for spectacular international for spectacular international attacks, including airline attacks, including airline hijackings, that have killed at hijackings, that have killed at least 20 U.S. citizens.least 20 U.S. citizens.

Based on the ideology continuum Based on the ideology continuum the PFLP is a Radical Left-Wing the PFLP is a Radical Left-Wing Palestinian guerrilla group.Palestinian guerrilla group.

George HabashGeorge Habash Habash was a medical student Habash was a medical student

at the American University in at the American University in Beirut.Beirut.

Founder of PFLP in 1967Founder of PFLP in 1967 in 1974 Habash was to lead in 1974 Habash was to lead

the PFLP and the PLO to join the PFLP and the PLO to join the rejectionist frontthe rejectionist front

Habash remained at the head Habash remained at the head of the PFLP and forged ties of the PFLP and forged ties with other leftist groups with other leftist groups outside Palestine such as the outside Palestine such as the German Baader-Meinhoff German Baader-Meinhoff group, the Irish Republican group, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and the Japanese Army (IRA), and the Japanese Red Army Red Army

In the Late 1990s Habash In the Late 1990s Habash stepped down as the Leader of stepped down as the Leader of the PFLP and was succeeded the PFLP and was succeeded by Abu Ali Mustafaby Abu Ali Mustafa

Still active in PFLP internal Still active in PFLP internal politicspolitics

Abu Ali MustafaAbu Ali Mustafa Mustafa had been a Mustafa had been a

founding member of the founding member of the PLO and a member of its PLO and a member of its Executive Committee. Executive Committee.

After taking over in 2000, After taking over in 2000, he moved PFLP he moved PFLP headquarters from Syria to headquarters from Syria to Ramallah in the West Bank Ramallah in the West Bank and began organizing and began organizing attacks on Israeli targets attacks on Israeli targets there. there.

After learning that Mustafa After learning that Mustafa and the PFLP intended to and the PFLP intended to carry out attacks on Israeli carry out attacks on Israeli schools and other civilian schools and other civilian areas, Israeli authorities areas, Israeli authorities bombed his office, killing bombed his office, killing him and several others. him and several others.

Ahmad SaadatAhmad Saadat Ahmad Saadat then Ahmad Saadat then

became head of the PFLP; became head of the PFLP; he was associated with he was associated with the assassination of the assassination of Rehavam Zeevi, Israel's Rehavam Zeevi, Israel's tourism minister, and in tourism minister, and in April 2002 was sentenced April 2002 was sentenced to one year in prison for to one year in prison for taking part in the taking part in the assassination. assassination.

Although the courts later Although the courts later ruled in favor of his ruled in favor of his release, continued PFLP release, continued PFLP attacks have prevented attacks have prevented this. this.

Wadi HaddadWadi Haddad Haddad was born to Greek Haddad was born to Greek

Orthodox parents in Safad, in Orthodox parents in Safad, in what is today northern Israel, in what is today northern Israel, in 1927.1927.

He studied medicine at The He studied medicine at The American University of Beirut, American University of Beirut, where he met fellow Palestinian where he met fellow Palestinian refugee George Habash. Together refugee George Habash. Together they helped found the Arab they helped found the Arab Nationalist Movement (ANM), a Nationalist Movement (ANM), a Pan Arab and Arab Socialist Pan Arab and Arab Socialist grouping aiming to reestablish grouping aiming to reestablish Palestine in the place of Israel and Palestine in the place of Israel and unite the Arab world.unite the Arab world.

After graduating, he relocated After graduating, he relocated with Habash (a paediatrician) to with Habash (a paediatrician) to Amman, Jordan, where they Amman, Jordan, where they established a clinic.established a clinic.

Leila KhaledLeila Khaled Leila Khaled long-time activist and Leila Khaled long-time activist and

Central Committee member of the Central Committee member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was born on 9 Palestine (PFLP), was born on 9 April 1944 in Haifa, Palestine. April 1944 in Haifa, Palestine.

Khaled joined a Lebanese cell of Khaled joined a Lebanese cell of the Arab Nationalists Movement the Arab Nationalists Movement (ANM) in 1958. She was a student (ANM) in 1958. She was a student and activist at the American and activist at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1962 University of Beirut (AUB) in 1962 to 1963, but left because of to 1963, but left because of financial difficulties and was financial difficulties and was employed as a teacher in Kuwait employed as a teacher in Kuwait for a number of years. for a number of years.

Khaled became infamous when she Khaled became infamous when she and a male colleague hijacked a and a male colleague hijacked a TWA airplane headed for Tel Aviv TWA airplane headed for Tel Aviv on 29 August 1969, forcing the on 29 August 1969, forcing the flight to land in Damascus, where flight to land in Damascus, where they blew it up after emptying it of they blew it up after emptying it of passengers. passengers.

External Aid:External Aid:Gamal Abdul NasserGamal Abdul Nasser

Second president of EgyptSecond president of Egypt

Major financial backer for the Major financial backer for the PFLPPFLP

Financial and military support Financial and military support are said to come from Syria and are said to come from Syria and Libya, and in 1999, Iranian Libya, and in 1999, Iranian president Mohammad Khatami president Mohammad Khatami promised to continue Iran's promised to continue Iran's support of not only the PFLP, support of not only the PFLP, but also the PFLP-GC, Islamic but also the PFLP-GC, Islamic Jihad, and HAMAS. Jihad, and HAMAS.

In addition to outside support, In addition to outside support, the PFLP has financed its the PFLP has financed its activities from front companies activities from front companies as well as legitimate business as well as legitimate business activities. activities.

Activities of the PFLPActivities of the PFLP The PFLP committed numerous international The PFLP committed numerous international

terrorist attacks during the 1970’s. terrorist attacks during the 1970’s. Since 1978, the group has conducted attacks Since 1978, the group has conducted attacks

against Israeli and moderate Arab targets, against Israeli and moderate Arab targets, including the killing of an Israeli settler and her including the killing of an Israeli settler and her son in December 1996. son in December 1996.

The PFLP has stepped up its operational activity The PFLP has stepped up its operational activity since the start of the current intifada, highlighted since the start of the current intifada, highlighted by at least two suicide bombings since 2003, by at least two suicide bombings since 2003, multiple joint operations with other Palestinian multiple joint operations with other Palestinian terrorist groups, and the assassination of the terrorist groups, and the assassination of the Israeli Tourism Minster in 2001 to avenge Israel’s Israeli Tourism Minster in 2001 to avenge Israel’s killing of the PFLP Secretary General earlier that killing of the PFLP Secretary General earlier that year.year.

Major EventsMajor Events

The hijacking of an El Al flight from Rome to The hijacking of an El Al flight from Rome to Lod airport in Israel on July 23, 1968. Lod airport in Israel on July 23, 1968.

The Western media reported that the flight The Western media reported that the flight was targeted because the PFLP believed was targeted because the PFLP believed Israeli general Yitzhak Rabin, who was Israeli general Yitzhak Rabin, who was Israeli ambassador to the US, was on board. Israeli ambassador to the US, was on board.

Several individuals involved with the Several individuals involved with the hijacking, including Leila Khaled deny this. hijacking, including Leila Khaled deny this.

The plane was diverted to Algiers, where 21 The plane was diverted to Algiers, where 21 passengers and 11 crew members were passengers and 11 crew members were held for 39 days, until August 31held for 39 days, until August 31

Major Events Cont.Major Events Cont. On September 6, 1970, the PFLP On September 6, 1970, the PFLP

(including Leila Khaled) hijacked (including Leila Khaled) hijacked four passenger aircraft from Pan four passenger aircraft from Pan Am, TWA and Swissair on flights Am, TWA and Swissair on flights to New York from Brussels, to New York from Brussels, Frankfurt and Zürich; and on Frankfurt and Zürich; and on September 9, 1970, hijacked a September 9, 1970, hijacked a BOAC flight from Bahrain to BOAC flight from Bahrain to London via Beirut. London via Beirut.

The Pan Am flight was diverted to The Pan Am flight was diverted to Cairo; the TWA, Swissair and Cairo; the TWA, Swissair and BOAC flights were diverted to BOAC flights were diverted to Dawson's Field in Zarqa, Jordan. Dawson's Field in Zarqa, Jordan.

The TWA, Swissair and BOAC The TWA, Swissair and BOAC aircraft were subsequently blown aircraft were subsequently blown up by the PFLP on September 12, up by the PFLP on September 12, in front of the world media, after in front of the world media, after all passengers had been taken off all passengers had been taken off the planes. the planes.

The event is significant, as it was The event is significant, as it was cited as a reason for to the Black cited as a reason for to the Black September clashes between September clashes between Palestinian and Jordanian forces. Palestinian and Jordanian forces.

Major Events Cont.Major Events Cont. Attack on a bus containing El Al passengers at Munich

airport, killing one passenger and wounding 11 on February 10, 1970;

The killing of Meir Lixenberg, councillor and head of security in four settlements, who was shot while travelling in his car in the West Bank on August 27, 2001. PFLP claimed that this was a retaliation for the killing of Abu Ali Mustafa.

October 21, 2001 Israeli Minister for Tourism Rehavam Zeevi was assassinated. He was the only Israeli politician to have been assassinated in the current intifada.

A suicide bombing in the bus station at Geha Junction in Petah Tikva on 25 December, 2003 which killed 4 Israelis.

In Tel Aviv on November 1, 2004. PFLP set off a car bomb In Tel Aviv on November 1, 2004. PFLP set off a car bomb in the Carmel Marketin the Carmel Market

General FactsGeneral Facts

In 1970 the PFLP split into three groups:In 1970 the PFLP split into three groups:– The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

(PFLP)(PFLP)– the the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine

(DFLP)– Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General

Command (PFLP-GC)

The PFLP was founded from the following three groups:– Heroes of the Return

– The National Front for the Liberation of Palestine

– The Independent Palestine Liberation Front

ReferencesReferences

Martin, G. (2003). Martin, G. (2003). Understanding Terrorism: Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues (2Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues (2ndnd Edition). Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State. Chapter 5- Country Chapter 5- Country Reports: Middle East and North Africa Overview.Reports: Middle East and North Africa Overview. County Reports on Terrorism. 28 April 2006 County Reports on Terrorism. 28 April 2006 http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/64344.hthttp://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/64344.htmm

U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State. Chapter 8- Foreign Chapter 8- Foreign Terrorist Organizations.Terrorist Organizations. County Reports on County Reports on Terrorism. 28 April 2006 Terrorism. 28 April 2006 http://www.state.gove/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.hthttp://www.state.gove/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htmm

www.answers.comwww.answers.com

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