Arlene Kushner explains the difference between the PLO and the PA.
The PLO, founded in 1964, became recognized and declared itself to be the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people wherever they are and the only agency empowered to negotiate on their behalf; it has a council that consists of Palestinians from different areas. In 1993, the PLO negotiated the Oslo Accords, which set into place, in 1994, the Palestinian Authority in certain specific regions of Gaza and Judea & Samaria. Theoretically, the PA could speak only for those in those areas, under its authority. But over time, Israel began dealing with the PA and not the PLO. This seemed not a big deal as the offices of the PA were filled in the main by PLO people. For a very long time Arafat was head of both the PA and the PLO; now Abbas is. Unless I am very much mistaken when Barak offered Arafat a state in 2000, he was speaking to him as head of the PA. Abbas now claims that, since Israel will not recognize the PA unity gov’t, he can still negotiate with Israel — but as head of the PLO. And technically he is correct. But this is disingenuous because he also represents the PA — which now refuses to recognize Israel. Besides which, as I just pointed out, it is anticipated that Hamas will now be influencing PLO ideology. As logical as what Abbas says seems on the surface, as I see it, the whole thing falls apart very quickly. For there is a gov’t in the PA areas that would have to be dealt with if a state were negotiated.
I might add that the THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN INTERIM AGREEMENT ON THE WEST BANK AND THE GAZA STRIP which was signed on Washington, D.C. September 28, 1995 was between the GoI and the PLO.
It is fair to say that the PA now speaks for the Arab residents of the West Bank and Gaza whereas the PLO still speaks for the “Palestinian ” people which includes the refugees. Thus the PA is not authorized to give up the right of return. Only the PLO can do this. Hamas has been demanding to be included in the power structure of the PLO.
Another variation of the Arab good cop/bad cop ploy first modeled by Hezbullah (social side/terrorism side), copied for use within Hamas, now copied by the Fatah/Hamas “unity” government, and as Kushner notes is being suggested for use to split even Abbas himself into negotiation-worthy PLO leader/no-negotiating-with-terrorists PA leader. This sham technique continues to be promoted by the U.S., Livni, and the world by their intransigent insistence on praising, funding, and otherwise bolstering “moderates” (falsely so called) vs. extremists.
Once again Kushner offers a nuanced explanation of their schemes.
When it comes to which organization, the PLO or the PA Israel can negotiate with and obtain an agreement that Israel can count on Palestinians honouring, neither Palestinian organization qualifies in the slightest.