PLO's Ten Point Program: Difference between revisions

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The Program called for the establishment of a national authority "over every part of Palestinian territory that is liberated" with the aim of "completing the liberation of all Palestinian territory". The program implied that the liberation of Palestine may be partial (at least, at some stage), and though it emphasized armed struggle, it did not exclude other means. This allowed the PLO to engage in diplomatic channels, and provided validation for future compromises made by the Palestinian leadership.

Because the Program introduced the concept of a [[two-state solution]] in the PLO, it was rejected by factionsthe whomore interpretedradical it as a potential path towards a permanent peace agreement with Israelhard-line factions, andwhich vowed to continue to fight until the destruction ofto eliminate [[Israel]], and formed the [[Rejectionist Front]], which was strongly backed by [[Iraq]]. {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

== Background ==

Following the failure [[Yomof Kippurthe War|Fourtharmies Arab–Israeliof War[[Egypt]] and [[Syria]] to defeat Israel in 1973 in the [[Yom Kippur War]], the Palestinian leadership began discussionsformulating ona strategic achieving their aims alternative. {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

==Specifics of the Program==

The Ten-PointPLO's ProgramPhased mostlyPlan did not stipulate clear operational measures and only repeated the principles of the policies which the Palestinian National Council had accepted in the past . Section 4 of the program has reaffirmed prior resolutions concerned towards the .:

* the denial of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 242]] (adopted after the [[Six-Day War]])

The primary points are <ref>{{Cite web |title=PLO Interim Program (Ten-Point Program) - 8 June 1974 (Historical Text) |url=https://www.palquest.org/en/historictext/9637/plo-interim-program-ten-point-program |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestine Question – palquest |language=en}}</ref> :

* the denial of the existence of the [[State of Israel]]

* Thethe demand of the return of all [[Palestinian refugees]] to their original homes .

* the establishment of an Arab-Palestinian state in the entire region of Palestine within the pre-1948 borders.

The innovation of PLO's Phased Plan was in the assertion that each step which would lead to the fulfillment of these goals would be a worthy step. It also stated that any territory, from the region of Palestine, which would be transferred to an Arab rule should be transferred to Palestinian control, also if the takeover of other territories would be delayed as a result. Some interpreted these series of decisions, as a realization by the PNC that it can not fulfill all its goals at once, but rather it would be able to do so in gradual small steps, and as a recognition of the council in the possibility of initiating political and diplomatic measures and not just an "[[Palestinian political violence|armed struggle]]" (although PLO's Phased Plan does not consist of a denial of the use of an armed struggle).{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

* The rejection of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 242]] (adopted after the [[Six-Day War]]) , as it viewed Palestinians as no more than [[Palestinian refugees|refugees]] .

* The rejection of the creation of a Palestinian entity on the condition of the implementation of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 242|Security Council Resolution 242]] .

* The establishment of a democratic Palestinian state over all of former [[Mandatory Palestine]] ([[Israel]] and the [[Palestinian territories]]) .

* The demand of the return of all [[Palestinian refugees]] to their original homes .

Section 2 of the Plan states:

The program called for the establishment of an "Independent fighting national authority " on "every part of Palestinian territory that is liberated" . This entity would strive to establish a "[[Pan-Arabism|union]]" with the "confrontation countries" ( Belligerent Arab states bordering Israel ) , to achieve "liberation of [[Palestine (region)|all Palestinian territory]]" , as a step towards "comprehensive [[Pan-Arabism|Arab unity]]" .

: The Palestine Liberation Organization will employ all means, and first and foremost armed struggle, to liberate Palestinian territory and to establish the independent combatant national authority for the people over every part of Palestinian territory that is liberated. This will require further changes being effected in the balance of power in favor of our people and their struggle.

Section 4 of the Plan states:

== Palestinian reception ==

: Any step taken towards liberation is a step towards the realization of the Liberation Organization's strategy of establishing the democratic Palestinian State specified in the resolutions of the previous Palestinian National Councils.

Because the Program introduced the concept of a [[two-state solution]] in the PLO, it was rejected by factions who interpreted it as a potential path towards a permanent peace agreement with Israel , and vowed to continue to fight until the destruction of [[Israel]], and formed the [[Rejectionist Front]], which was strongly backed by [[Iraq]]. {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Section 8 of the Plan states:

The factions that joined the Rejectionist Front included the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (PFLP), the second largest faction in the PLO, after Fatah. These factions would act independently of the PLO over the following years. Suspicion between the [[Fatah]]-led coalition and the Rejectionists , within and beyond the PLO, have continued to dominate the inner workings of the organization ever since, often resulting in paralysis or conflicting courses of action.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

:Once it is established, the Palestinian national authority will strive to achieve a union of the confrontation countries, with the aim of completing the liberation of all Palestinian territory, and as a step along the road to comprehensive Arab unity.

== Palestinian receptionreaction ==

A temporary closing of ranks came in 1977, as Palestinian factions joined with Arab governments in the [[Steadfastness and Confrontation Front]] to condemn Egyptian attempts to reach a separate peace with Israel, which eventually resulted in the 1979 [[Camp David Accords]].{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

The Ten Point Program was rejected by the more radical hard-line factions of the PLO, which were mainly concerned that the Program could potentially turn into a peace agreement with Israel. They formed the [[Rejectionist Front]] and vowed to continue the armed struggle to eliminate [[Israel]]. The factions that joined the Rejectionist Front included the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (PFLP), the second largest faction in the PLO, after Fatah. These factions would act independently of the PLO over the following years. Suspicion between the [[Fatah]]Arafat-led coalitionmainstream and the Rejectionistsmore hard-line factions, withininside and beyond outside the PLO, have continued to dominate the inner workings of the organization ever since, often resulting in paralysis or conflicting courses of action.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} A temporary closing of ranks came in 1977, as Palestinian factions joined with hard-line Arab governments in the [[Steadfastness and Confrontation Front]] to condemn Egyptian attempts to reach a separate peace with Israel, which eventually resulting in the 1979 [[Camp David Accords]].{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

== Israel's reaction ==

In 2000s , PLO representative to Lebanon [[Abbas Zaki]] once stated in a video translated by [[Middle East Media Research Institute|MEMRI]] that "The two-state solution will lead to the collapse of Israel".<ref>{{cite web |author=www.memri.org |date= |title=Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon Abbas Zaki: Two-State Solution Will Lead to the Collapse of Israel |url=http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/3297.htm |accessdate=2016-11-19 |website=Memri.org}}</ref> {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Israel called the Program the ''"PLO's Step/stage Program"'' or ''"PLO's Phased Plan"'' (''Tokhnit HaSHlavim'' or ''Torat HaSHlavim''), which it regarded as a dangerous policy, mainly because it implied that any future compromise agreement between Israel and the PLO Palestinians would not be honored . Some Israeli observers believe [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process|negotiations]] withby the PLO. It are not sincereraised the ,fear andamong allegeIsraelis that the Palestinians may exploit concededfuture [[Palestinian enclaves|parts]] of the [[Palestinian territories|OccupiedIsraeli Territory]]territorial compromises to implement"improve the Ten-Point Program , and eventuallypositions" takefor overattacking Israel. {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} .

Over the years, negotiations took place between Israel and the PLO and other Palestinian leaders, while there was a strong concern among large parts of the Israeli public and the Israeli leadership that the negotiations were not sincere, and that the Palestinians' willingness to compromise was just a smoke-screen for implementing the Ten Point Program. {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

As of 2024 , The status of the Phased Plan within the PLO's current polices is unclear. {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

When the [[Oslo Accords]] were signed, many Israeli right-wing politicians openly claimed that this was part of the ploy to implement the Ten Point Program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfc.co.il/archive/003-D-6200-00.html?tag=23-15-32 |title=מבט פלשתיני לפתרון הסכסוך: היעדים המוצהרים של הרשות הפלשתינית|trans-title=A Palestinian perspective on resolving the conflict: The stated goals of the Palestinian Authority|first=יהונתן|last=דחוח-הלוי|website=Nfc.co.il|date=2012-10-30|accessdate=2016-11-19|archive-date=2016-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120150617/http://www.nfc.co.il/archive/003-D-6200-00.html?tag=23-15-32}}</ref>

== Israel's reaction ==

Israel called the Program the ''"PLO's Step/stage Program"'' or ''"PLO's Phased Plan"'' (''Tokhnit HaSHlavim'' or ''Torat HaSHlavim''), which it regarded as a dangerous policy, mainly because it implied that any future compromise agreement between Israel and the PLO would not be honored . Some Israeli observers believe [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process|negotiations]] with the PLO are not sincere , and allege that Palestinians may exploit conceded [[Palestinian enclaves|parts]] of the [[Palestinian territories|Occupied Territory]] to implement the Ten-Point Program , and eventually take over Israel. {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} .

In 2007 , theThe [[Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel|Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] accusedhas noted that the Palestinian leadership of exploitingasserted that the [[Oslo Accords]]Accord tois implementpart of the TenPLO's Point1974 ProgramPhased as an initial step towards [[CallsPlan for the destruction of Israel|Israel's destruction]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Archive/Peace+Process/1996/INCITEMENT%20TO%20VIOLENCE%20AGAINST%20ISRAEL%20BY%20LEADERSHI |title=INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE AGAINST ISRAEL BY LEADERSHIP OF PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY - 27-Nov-96 |urlwebsite=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Archive/Peace+Process/1996/INCITEMENT%20TO%20VIOLENCE%20AGAINST%20ISRAEL%20BY%20LEADERSHI |urlaccess-statusdate=dead15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622142512/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Archive/Peace+Process/1996/INCITEMENT%20TO%20VIOLENCE%20AGAINST%20ISRAEL%20BY%20LEADERSHI |archive-date=22 June 2007 |accessurl-datestatus=15 January 2022 |website=www.mfa.gov.ildead}}</ref>

There is a debate within Israel on whether the Phased Plan represents the unofficial policy and opinion of certain factions within the Palestinian leadership and Public , and whether they aim to eventually take over the entirety of former [[Mandatory Palestine]] or only to the [[Palestinian territories|occupied areas]] ; the [[West Bank]] (including [[East Jerusalem]]) , and the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=ארי |first1=יוסי בן |date=2014-09-17 |title=ynet מה עושים כשהמודיעין סותר את עצמו? - חדשות |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3344810,00.html |accessdate=2016-11-19 |newspaper=Ynet}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=תוכנית השלבים |trans-title=Phased Plan |url=http://reut-institute.org/he/Publication.aspx?PublicationId=113 |access-date=2016-11-20 |language=he}}</ref>

The status of PLO's Phased Plan nowadays is unclear. The Plan was never officially canceled, but in general, the Palestinian leadership has stopped referring to it since the late 1980s. Recently, however, several statements made by PLO officials on the subject indicate that the Phased Plan has not been abandoned – most notably the statement of the PLO ambassador to Lebanon which stated in an interview that the "two-state solution will lead to the collapse of Israel".<ref>{{cite web |author=www.memri.org |url=http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/3297.htm |title=Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon Abbas Zaki: Two-State Solution Will Lead to the Collapse of Israel |website=Memri.org |date= |accessdate=2016-11-19}}</ref>

When the [[Oslo Accords]] were first signed, Israeli right-wing politicians openly claimed that this was part of the ploy to implement the Ten Point Program.<ref>{{cite web |date=2012-10-30 |title=News1 &#124; מבט פלשתיני לפתרון הסכסוך |url=http://www.nfc.co.il/archive/003-D-6200-00.html?tag=23-15-32 |accessdate=2016-11-19 |website=Nfc.co.il}}</ref>

ThereNowadays there is a debate within Israel on whether the Phased Plan still represents the unofficial policythinking and opinionofficial policy of certain factions within the Palestinian leadership and Publicof ,the Palestinian people and whether theythe Palestinian public and leadership still aim to eventuallyultimately take control over the entiretyentire ofregion formerof [[MandatoryPalestine (region)|Palestine]] or onlywhether toPalestinian theterritorial [[Palestinianclaims territories|occupiedapply areas]]only ;to the [[West Bank]] (including [[East Jerusalem]]) , and the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{cite news |last1url=ארי |first1=יוסי בן |date=2014http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-09-173344810,00.html |title=ynet מה עושים כשהמודיעין סותר את עצמו? - חדשות |urlnewspaper=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,LYnet |date=2014-3344810,00.html09-17 |accessdate=2016-11-19|last1=ארי |newspaperfirst1=Ynetיוסי בן }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://reut-institute.org/he/Publication.aspx?PublicationId=113 |title=תוכנית השלבים |language=he |trans-title=Phased Plan |access-date=2016-11-20 |archive-date=2016-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120085129/http://reut-institute.org/he/Publication.aspx?PublicationId=113 |accessurl-datestatus=2016-11-20dead |language=he}}</ref>

In 2007 , the [[Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel|Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] accused the Palestinian leadership of exploiting the [[Oslo Accords]] to implement the Ten Point Program as an initial step towards [[Calls for the destruction of Israel|Israel's destruction]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |title=INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE AGAINST ISRAEL BY LEADERSHIP OF PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY - 27-Nov-96 |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Archive/Peace+Process/1996/INCITEMENT%20TO%20VIOLENCE%20AGAINST%20ISRAEL%20BY%20LEADERSHI |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622142512/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Archive/Peace+Process/1996/INCITEMENT%20TO%20VIOLENCE%20AGAINST%20ISRAEL%20BY%20LEADERSHI |archive-date=22 June 2007 |access-date=15 January 2022 |website=www.mfa.gov.il}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process|Israeli-Palestinian peace processconflict]]

* [[Oslo Accords]]

* [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 242]]

* [[Palestinian right of return]]

* [[Salami tactics]]

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__NOTOC__

[[Category:Party platforms]]

[[Category:Palestine Liberation Organization]]

[[Category:Palestinian nationalism]]

[[Category:Foreign relations of the State of Palestine]]

[[Category:1974 documents]]