Wilderness Survival Foreign Terrorist Organizations Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
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| Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) |
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| Thursday, 07 October 2004 | |
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Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Favored Tactics. The PFLP is most famous for its plane highjackings. More recently, the group has turned to car bombings, assassinations, and guerilla tactics. Brief History. After the 1967 Israeli victory over its Arab neighbors, George Habash, a medical doctor and a Christian, founded the PFLP as a more leftist leaning organization bent on the destruction of Israel. In the 1970’s the PFLP became one of the first Palestinian movements to use terrorism to further its agenda and was the second largest organization under the PLO.334 Unlike the PLO, the PFLP sought support from the People’s Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and the USSR’s client state Syria. Funding for the PFLP diminished with the collapse of the Soviet Union, but the group’s headquarters remain in Damascus.The PFLP conducted numerous terrorist attacks in the 1970’s. In its most infamous attack, PFLP members highjacked a TWA Boeing 747, a Swissair DC-8, and a BOAC VC-10, flew them all to Dawson Airfield outside Amman, Jordan, and blew them up on the ground after unloading the hostages. In June of 1972, three members of the Japanese United Red Army opened fire with machine guns and killed 26 people at Lod airport at the behest of the PFLP. In May of 2000, the ailing founder of the PFLP, George Habash, handed his authority over to Abu Ali Mustafa, originally named Mustafa al-Zibri. Since the Palestinian-Israeli peace process floundered in September 2000 and the Al-Aqsa Intifada erupted, the PFLP has carried out ten car bombings and numerous other attacks. In August 2001, Israeli helicopters launched a rocket attack against PFLP headquarters and killed Mustafa. The PFLP retaliated by killing Rehavam Zeevi, Israel’s Tourism Minister. Mustafa was succeeded by Ahmed Saadat who was arrested by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 2002. Followers of the PFLP have threatened to kill PA figures if Saadat is not released. Favored Tactics. The PFLP is most famous for its plane highjackings. More recently, the group has turned to car bombings, assassinations, and guerilla tactics. Anti-American Activities. The PFLP has not engaged in any direct attacks on U.S. citizens or interests. Primary Areas of Operation. Headquarters for the PFLP are in Damascus, Syria, and the group is believed to keep support bases in Lebanon. They carry out operations in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Strength and Composition. The PFLP reportedly has around 800 to1,000 members. Connections with Other Groups. The PFLP rejected the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the PLO and joined the Damascus-based Alliance of Palestinian Forces (APF). Within the APF, the PFLP enjoyed good relations with other groups such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the PFLP-General Command (see entries). However, the PFLP showed a willingness to negotiate with Arafat by attending the 1996 Palestinian National Council, and thereby effectively sealed a split between the PFLP and the APF. Bilateral relations with individual APF members continue, especially with the more violent elements of the Fatah movement. State Sponsors, Other Sources of Funding, and Constituencies. The PFLP receives safe haven and logistical support from Syria, and some financial support from Iran. Originally Designated as an FTO. October 8, 1997. Re-designated. October 8, 1999, October 5, 2001. Issues of Concern for Congress. Syria’s role in aiding this group may be an issue of relevance to the Syrian Accountability Act, P.L. 108-175. This group has violently attacked Israeli civilians and will play a role in the viability of any Israeli- Palestinian peace process.
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