The Rise of the PLO The Rise of the PLO and Arafatand Arafat

Q.O.D. 2-25-14Q.O.D. 2-25-14

Take a few moments to Take a few moments to analyze/assess the outcome of the analyze/assess the outcome of the Suez Crisis.Suez Crisis.

Sources UsedSources Used http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/

palestinian_liberation_order.htmpalestinian_liberation_order.htm

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/plohistoryofrevolutionplohistoryofrevolution

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1994/arafat-facts.htmllaureates/1994/arafat-facts.html

Arab-Israeli ConflictArab-Israeli Conflict, Bickerton and Klausner, Bickerton and Klausner

The BeginningsThe Beginnings In 1964, Gamal Abdul Nasser, the Egyptian In 1964, Gamal Abdul Nasser, the Egyptian

president, convened the first Arab summit president, convened the first Arab summit in Cairo. His aim was to lead an Arab in Cairo. His aim was to lead an Arab response to the state of Israel and the deal response to the state of Israel and the deal with Israel’s planned diversion of the Jordan with Israel’s planned diversion of the Jordan River waters. The Arab leaders voted to set River waters. The Arab leaders voted to set up a body to organize the Palestinians in up a body to organize the Palestinians in their diaspora. The summit also provided their diaspora. The summit also provided for the formation of a Palestinian Liberation for the formation of a Palestinian Liberation ArmyArmy

Ahmad al-Shuqairy, a Palestinian Ahmad al-Shuqairy, a Palestinian diplomat, was chosen to head the diplomat, was chosen to head the newly-formed body, The Palestine newly-formed body, The Palestine Liberation Organization.. Al-Shuqairy Liberation Organization.. Al-Shuqairy wanted an organization that would not wanted an organization that would not just kowtow to Arab regimes. The PLO’s just kowtow to Arab regimes. The PLO’s primary objective was to gain (though primary objective was to gain (though from their point of view regain) the land from their point of view regain) the land handed by the United Nations to Israel. handed by the United Nations to Israel.

In its infancy, the PLO was not In its infancy, the PLO was not associated with violence. But from associated with violence. But from 1967 on, it became dominated by an 1967 on, it became dominated by an organization called Fatah - meaning organization called Fatah - meaning liberation or conquest. liberation or conquest.

Fatah and ArafatFatah and Arafat

Yasir (Yasser) Arafat grew up in Cairo Yasir (Yasser) Arafat grew up in Cairo and Jerusalem. He took part in the war and Jerusalem. He took part in the war against the new state of Israel in 1948, against the new state of Israel in 1948, when many Palestinians were expelled. when many Palestinians were expelled. From there, he organized the guerrilla From there, he organized the guerrilla group Fatah, which attacked Israel. As group Fatah, which attacked Israel. As Fatah languished in the aftermath of Fatah languished in the aftermath of the Suez crisis, he moved to Kuwait the Suez crisis, he moved to Kuwait where her worked as a successful where her worked as a successful engineer. engineer.

The 1967 WarThe 1967 War

In the aftermath of Arab defeat in the 1967 In the aftermath of Arab defeat in the 1967 Six Day War, Palestinian guerrilla factions Six Day War, Palestinian guerrilla factions consolidated their grip on the refugee consolidated their grip on the refugee camps in the Arab world. In 1969, Fatah camps in the Arab world. In 1969, Fatah leader Yasser Arafat was elected chairman leader Yasser Arafat was elected chairman of the PLO, marking a new era in which the of the PLO, marking a new era in which the guerrillas overthrew the traditional hold of guerrillas overthrew the traditional hold of more established Palestinian families.more established Palestinian families.

Palestinian Refugee Camp in Syria, 1967Palestinian Refugee Camp in Syria, 1967

Fatah became more extreme as Israel Fatah became more extreme as Israel became more successful militarily became more successful militarily (1967 and 1973) and more intransigent (1967 and 1973) and more intransigent about handing back land conquered about handing back land conquered from the Arabs (Sinai and the Golan from the Arabs (Sinai and the Golan Heights in particular). Even more Heights in particular). Even more extreme units developed within the extreme units developed within the PLO. Probably the two most associated PLO. Probably the two most associated with terrorism were ‘Black September’ with terrorism were ‘Black September’ and the ‘Palestinian Front for the and the ‘Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine’. Liberation of Palestine’.

These two groups believed that the These two groups believed that the only way Israel could be forced into only way Israel could be forced into returning land was to use violence – returning land was to use violence – and bombing, hijacking and murder and bombing, hijacking and murder became their modus operandi.became their modus operandi.

29 hijackings attempted or carried out by Palestinian factions 29 hijackings attempted or carried out by Palestinian factions between 1968 and 1977--trigger the Jordanian civil war, also known between 1968 and 1977--trigger the Jordanian civil war, also known as Black September, as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as Black September, as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

and the PFLP attempt to seize control of Jordan from King Hussein.and the PFLP attempt to seize control of Jordan from King Hussein.

The most infamous act of terrorism, The most infamous act of terrorism, among many, was the attack on the Israeli among many, was the attack on the Israeli Olympic squad at the Munich Olympics in Olympic squad at the Munich Olympics in September1972. Though this attack was September1972. Though this attack was carried out by members of ‘Black carried out by members of ‘Black September’, the main thrust of attention September’, the main thrust of attention was on the umbrella movement it was in – was on the umbrella movement it was in – the PLO. At the Munich Olympics, two the PLO. At the Munich Olympics, two Israeli wrestlers were killed outright by the Israeli wrestlers were killed outright by the terrorists while nine were held hostage. terrorists while nine were held hostage.

An attempted rescue bid by the German An attempted rescue bid by the German police failed and the nine athletes were police failed and the nine athletes were killed along with two German police and five killed along with two German police and five terrorists. The surviving terrorists were terrorists. The surviving terrorists were arrested and imprisoned. Just six weeks arrested and imprisoned. Just six weeks later they were flown to Libya as a German later they were flown to Libya as a German airliner had been hijacked by ‘Black airliner had been hijacked by ‘Black September’ and the threat of killing all on September’ and the threat of killing all on board was enough to win the freedom of board was enough to win the freedom of those who had been involved in the Munich those who had been involved in the Munich murders. murders.