Leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization: Yasser ArafatThe PLO: As a sort of "umbrella" for other various Palestinian terrorist organizations, the PLO has carried out both military and what policies. Militarily, the organization has been involved in several actions against both Israeli troops and innocent civilians. The PLO took actions not only against Israelis, but against many other nationalities. The PLO denied responsibility for many of its actions. Organization: The PLO is composed of three bodies, the Executive Committee, which exercises central control, the Central Committee, the Council, and the Palestinian National Council, which was previously the parliament of the Palestinian people. in exile. Example of actions: November 1985: Egyptian plane hijacked and forced to land in Malta; 8 dead, 7 injured. During the Egyptian rescue operation; 58 dead, 23 injured. The PLO: Purpose and Formation Between 1948 and 1964 the Palestinians had no direction. They were leaderless and disorganized. Their cause was supported by others. The Arab states took the lead in the fight against Israel while the Palestinians played a minor role. This situation changed after the creation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964. Organizations that had been formed secretly before the PLO joined the group and strengthened the PLO. It later became an "umbrella organization" with which all these groups were associated. The main goal of these organizations was the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The PLO statute states: "Palestine is the homeland of the Palestinian Arab people; it is an indivisible part of the Arab homeland, and the Palestinian people are an integral part of the Arab nation." The Charter declares that Palestinians have “material, spiritual and historical ties to Palestine.” It denies any connection Jews have with Palestine. “Claims of Jewish historical or religious ties to Palestine are inconsistent with the facts of history…” The PLO believes that Israel should cease to exist as a Jewish state and be replaced by a Palestinian Arab state governed by the PLO . The PLO sought to achieve this goal through terrorism and armed struggle. The PLO also publicized the cause of Palestinians around the world to receive international support for the creation of a Palestinian state. In 1969 Yasser Arafat was appointed chairman of the PLO.