What is the PLO?
PLO stands for Palestine Liberation Organization. Founded in 1964, it is the political body that represents the Arab population in the Palestinian territories. The PLO’s chief goal is to establish an independent state of Palestine. Since the 1960s, PLO guerrilla groups have staged attacks against Israel. Israel, in turn, has attacked PLO operatives. Yasir Arafat became chairman of the PLO in 1969, and still is.