Explain the Reasons Why the Israeli State Found It Difficult to Defeat or Come to Terms with the Palestinian Liberation Organization

These terrorist actions gained some sympathy and a lot of publicity for the Palestinians but their cause did not make much progress. After leaving Lebanon Arafat was forced to rethink his methods. He wanted a compromise with Israel. However he had to be extremely cautious to avoid looking like a traitor to the Palestinian cause and encouraging radical groups to overthrow him.  After cultivating the UN for support in 1974 when he took “an olive branch” to New York, the Camp David agreement was settled between Israel and Egypt. This agreement involved Sadat the Egyptian president regaining the Sinai in return for a pledge of peace with Israel. Sadat was later assassinated in 1981 by his own soldiers during a military parade. They believed that he had disgraced Islam by making a deal with the Israelis. This acted as a deterrent to other leaders to avoid peace deals, by making them fear for their own lives. This made it difficult for the Israelis to come to terms with the P.L.O. 

In 1988 the P.L.O. accepted UN resolutions 238 and 242. This means that for the first time they accepted the right of Israel to exist. However, as Arafat and the P.L.O. became more moderate in a search for peace, more extreme groups have come to being such as Hamas and Hizbollah. These groups have caused new problems in the search for peace. They carry out regular attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. This put Arafat in difficult positions where he would promise that there would be no more attacks and Hamas would carry out an attack leaving him looking out of his depth.

Consequently hardliners such as Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon have become more vocal jeopardizing the chances of peace.

Another point that I feel has made it difficult for the Israeli state to defeat or come to terms with the P.L.O. is the shift in public opinion that took place as a consequence of the Intifada. The sight of stone throwing young Palestinians confronting well armed Israeli tanks and troops won worldwide admiration. In the past Israel had often seemed to be a brave underdog, surrounded by great numbers of Arab enemies. During the Intifada many people saw the Palestinians as the underdogs and the Israelis as the brutal oppressors. Even the American government, the greatest supporter of Israel, became concerned and argued that the Israelis must compromise with the Palestinians. With the Intifada occurring in 1987, Arafat’s announced concessions took advantage of the sway in public opinion and gave him an opportunity of establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza by gaining American support.

The final reason I feel is the deep hatred that some members of each side feel for the other and their unwillingness to come to any form of compromise. I think that this hatred can be accurately shown by the microcosm of the whole situation that is the handshake between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat after the signing of the Israeli-P.L.O.  Peace accord at the white house in 1993. Arafat extended his hand first, in my opinion showing the way in which the Palestinians are grateful for any chance of regaining land or control in what they see as Palestine. However, the unwillingness of Rabin to shake hands with Arafat and his need of encouragement from Bill Clinton shows two things. Firstly I feel it simply shows Rabin’s and all Israeli’s general dislike and distrust of Arafat and Palestinians on the whole. Secondly I believe it shows the way in which the Israeli state is unwilling to give any concession to the Palestinians, and that they would only ever consider such a move under great pressure from the outside world or America, their great friends, shown by Bill Clinton.

In conclusion, the main reasons why the Israeli state found it difficult to defeat or come to terms with the P.L.O. are

• A fear of assassination after a compromise is made
• The new found Palestinian desire to return to their homeland
• The terrorist tactics and guerrilla warfare used by the P.L.O.
• The change in world opinion after the Intifada
• The troubles caused by extremist new groups
• The consequent hard-line politicians becoming more vocal
• The hatred between the peoples

The biggest question mark though remains over Yasser Arafat and whether or not he can be trusted. The Israelis do not know for sure whether he truly believes in co existing with Israel or whether he is secretly encouraging bombers behind closed doors in order to gain more. Deals have been done with Arafat because he seemed the best hope for peace. This remains still to be seen.