Editing Palestine Liberation Organization (section)

===Ten Point Program===
{{main|PLO's Ten Point Program}}
Following the failure of the armies of Egypt and Syria to defeat Israel in October 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], which broke the status quo existing since June 1967 [[Six-Day War]], the PLO began formulating a strategic alternative.<ref name=merip/> Now, they intended to establish a "national authority" over every territory they would be able to reconquer. From 1 to 9 June 1974, the Palestine National Council held its 12th meeting in Cairo. On 8 June, the [[PLO's Ten Point Program|Ten Point Program]] was adopted. The Program stated:

{{blockquote|The Liberation Organization will employ all means, and first and foremost armed struggle, to liberate Palestinian territory and to establish the independent combatant national authority for the people over every part of Palestinian territory that is liberated. This will require further changes being effected in the balance of power in favour of our people and their struggle.<ref name=ten_point>[https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/BA7A9909F792340F8525704D006BDAF1 ''Text of the Ten Point Program''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325120540/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/BA7A9909F792340F8525704D006BDAF1|date=25 March 2015}}, 8 June 1974. On UNISPAL</ref>}}

By "every part of Palestinian territory that is liberated" was implicitly meant the West Bank and Gaza Strip, albeit presented as an interim goal.<ref name=merip>[http://www.merip.org/mer/mer80/plo-crossroads ''The PLO at the Crossroads—Moderation, Encirclement, Future Prospects'']. See par. The PLO on the Road to "Moderation". Sameer Abraham, MER 80, Volume: 9, September/October 1979</ref> The final goal remained "completing the liberation of all Palestinian territory" and "recover all their national rights and, first and foremost, their rights to return and to self-determination on the whole of the soil of their homeland".<ref name=plo1974>[http://www.mideastweb.org/plo1974.htm The PNC Program of 1974], 8 June 1974. On the site of MidEastWeb for Coexistence R.A. – Middle East Resources. Page includes commentary.</ref> In addition, [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 242|UN Resolution 242]] was still rejected.<ref name=ten_point/>

While clinging to armed struggle as the prime means, the PLO no longer excluded peaceful means. Therefore, the ''Ten Point Program'' was considered the first attempt by the PLO at peaceful resolution. In October 1974, the Arab League proclaimed the PLO "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in any Palestinian territory that is liberated", and also the UN recognized the PLO. From then, the diplomatic road was prepared. On the other hand, the Program was rejected by more radical factions and eventually caused a split in the movement.<ref name=merip/>