The PLO includes the Palestine National Liberation Movement (Fatah), the biggest and most powerful faction of the organization,the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Arab Front of Palestine for the Liberation, the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front and a number of minor groups.

Although the groups have very different individual characteristics they share the same goal -- the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

According to the Palestinian National Charter created in 1968 by the PLO and other groups, the PLO is the official representative for the Palestinian people and the leading political force of Palestine.

The PLO is made up of three bodies: the Executive Committee, exercising central control; the Central Committee, the counsel; and the Palestine National Council, which was earlier the Palestinian people's parliament in exile.

In 1969, Yasser Arafat, of Fatah, became chairman of the PLO's Executive Committee, a position he still holds.

The PLO was initially committed to the dissolution of Israel, mainly through the use of armed force. At that time, the planned Palestinian state was intended to take over all areas occupied by Israel.

In 1974, the PLO was recognized by the United Nations as "the representative of the Palestinian people" and was proclaimed the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people by Arab states at the Rabat Conference.

In 1982, the PLO was weakened after the invasion of Lebanon by Israel. PLO members in West Beirut were dispersed to other Arab countries.

In 1988, accepting the UN Security Council Resolution 242 -- which in reality is a recognition Israel -- the PLO proclaimed the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

In 1993, after Israel lifted its ban on contacts with Palestine,the two sides started secret negotiations. In the same year, a peace agreement between the PLO and Israel was reached under which the two sides agreed on mutual recognition and a degree of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The PLO has defined the new Palestinian state as the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

In 1996, the PLO formally revoked all clauses in its founding charter that called for the dissolution of Israel.

The revocation led to the PFLP and the DFLP breaking away from the PLO Executive Committee.