Key Groups of Palestinian Politics

 Al Hadaf:

Palestinian political Magazine founded in ‘69. Editor is Ghassan Kanafani.

Black September: (Militant organization)

Militant group that killed Wasfi Al Tal (PM of Jordan) + pro Palestinian, named in commemoration of the civil war + seeking revenge against the jordanians and the Israelis ⇒ hence murders the PM. Breakaway militant faction of Fateh. 

○ Palestinian fedeyeen were militants or guerrillas fighting in Black September

Fateh

 Founded by Yasser Arafat in 1959 in Kuwait; a secular political party dedicated to liberation of Palestine. It is later absorbed by PLO. It becomes part of the PLO’s structure. Today, it is the largest political party in Palestinian politics. It was founded by Palestinian professionals in the diaspora (engineers…). Haraket Tahrir al Watan al Filastini #opening in arabic. 

Gush Emunim

Right Wing Israeli organization founded in 1974 that was committed to building settlements for Jews only. It is an orthodox jewish political group. ⇒ Mostly Ashkenazi + Jewish fundamentalist + zionist group that called for the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, their enemy. 

○ Importance of talmudic studies. Messianic ⇒ Rabbi Kook Jr’s important role. He founded the Gahelet political group (nucleus of settler religious terrorist ideology)

Haredim

Ultra-religious orthodox jews who are characterized by their strict adherence to Halakha and Jewish traditions. They are non-zionists. This does not make them pro-palestine. They just believe that the concept of conquering land is wonderful but it is not great if it costs jewish life. ⇒ early 1950s = objected to plus sign because it is similar to cross. 

○ Opposed modern innovation and represented a backlash against Jewish enlightenment (secularized movement) 

○ Primary concern: expand education, specifically talmudic study 

○ Granted special privileges, like deferments from military service 

○ Labor Party and Likud party go to the Haredim for political support; therefore, allowing Haredim to significantly influence Israeli politics 

■ Haredim Relevance to secular right aka Likud ⇒ provide religious justification for perpetual Jewish presence 

○ Israeli foreign policy is usually conducted by secular Jews but displays an essence derived from the Jewish religious past 

NRP: (National Religious Party)

party of the religious national jews-- more religiously moderate; Political Zionist, jewish fundamentalist political party representing religious zionist movement. Founded in 1956 and dissolved in 2008, throughout its life, it drifted to the right and became increasingly associated with Israeli Settlers. Orthodox faction within zionist movement that combines the importance of establishing a jewish state following a religious way of life. Messianic 

○ They are moderate in the sense that they are willing to make specific compromises with modernity as opposed to the Haredim 

Peace Now Movement

zionist ⇒ interested in ending the occupation of different parts that were occupied in 1967 

○ Peace now = Labor government 

○ Liberal advocacy and activist group in Israel with the aim of promoting a two state solution 

PLO

 Palestine Liberation Organization. Founded by Nasser and the Arab League in 1964. ○ It later absorbed the PFLP and fateh to create one nation-like structure.

○ Presents itself as the sole representative of the Palestinians. This was recognized by the non-aligned movement and the Rabat conference in 1974. Nationalist and militant organization whose purpose is to establish Arab unity and the liberation of the occupied territories. 

○ In 1988, with the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, Arafat became President.

 PFLP

Popular front for the liberation of Palestine. Founded in 1967 by George Habash (palestinian nationalist and leftist). Marxist-leninist group. Second largest group forming the PLO. Founded as a result of the loss in 1967 and the Israeli terror it fostered. 

○ Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), an offshoot of PFLP, would attack Israeli colonial settlements built on confiscated palestinian land 

TNT: (Terror Against Terror)

Radical jewish terrorist organization, militant group, sponsored several attacks against Palestinians. Founded by Rabbi Kahane, who was a Jewish fundamentalist, he believed that Palestinian terrorism should be met with Jewish terrorism. Began violent attacks in 1975. 

○ Believe in the coming of the Messiah.