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Wayzata World Factbook 1996
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The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso
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terror
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PFLP
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Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
Description
Marxist-Leninist group that is a member of the PLO founded in 1967 by George
Habash. After Fatah, is the most important military and political
organization in the Palestinian movement. Advocates a Pan-Arab revolution.
Opposes the Declaration of Principles signed in 1993 and has suspended
participation in the PLO.
Activities
Committed numerous international terrorist attacks between 1970 and 1977.
Since the death in 1978 of Wadi Haddad, its terrorist planner, PFLP has
carried out numerous attacks against Israeli or moderate Arab tarqets.
Strength
800.
Location/Area of Operation
Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied territories.
External Aid
Receives most of its financial and military assistance from Syria and Libya.
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SELECTED INCIDENT CHRONOLOGY
JULY, 1968:
HIJACKED AN EL AL AIRLINER ENROUTE FROM ROME TO ISRAEL.
SEPTEMBER, 1969:
CONDUCTED SIMULTANEOUS HIJACKINGS OF THREE AIRLINERS. TWO WERE
FLOWN TO JORDAN AND ONE TO EGYPT, AND ALL THREE WERE BLOWN UP
BEFORE TELEVISION CAMERAS.
MAY, 1972:
EMPLOYED JAPANESE RED ARMY TERRORISTS TO CONDUCT A MACHINEGUN
ATTACK IN THE ARRIVALS HALL OF THE LOD (BEN GURION) AIRPORT
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN ISRAEL. TWENTY SEVEN CIVILIANS, INCLUDING
SIXTEEN PUERTO RICAN TOURISTS VISITING THE HOLY LAND, WERE KILLED.
JULY, 1973:
HIJACKED A JAPANESE AIRLINER TO LIBYA AND BLEW IT UP.
DECEMBER, 1974:
THREW HANDGRENADES INTO A CROWDED TEL AVIV THEATER, KILLING THREE
AND WOUNDING TWENTY-FOUR.
JUNE, 1976:
HIJACKED AN AIR FRANCE AIRLINER TO ENTEBBE, UGANDA, WHERE FOUR
CIVILIANS WERE KILLED DURING THE RESCUE OPERATION BY ISRAELI
FORCES.
AUGUST, 1976:
KILLED FOUR PASSENGERS ON AN EL AL AIRLINER IN ISTANBUL.
OCTOBER, 1977:
HIJACKED A LUFTHANSA AIRLINER TO MOGADISHU, SOMALIA, DEMANDING THE
RELEASE OF TERRORISTS HELD IN WEST GERMAN PRISONS. WEST GERMAN
BORDER POLICE TROOPS (GSG-9) STORMED THE PLANE, KILLING THREE
TERRORISTS AND CAPTURING A FOURTH. THE HIJACKING WAS CONDUCTED BY
GERMAN AS WELL AS PFLP OPERATIVES.
APRIL, 1979:
AFTER A FOILED ATTEMPT TO TAKE OVER AN EL AL AIRCRAFT AT
ZAVENTEM AIRPORT IN BRUSSELS, THE PFLP OPERATIVES THREW A GASOLINE
BOMB AND A HAND GRENADE INTO A VISITOR'S CAFE, WOUNDING FIVE
BELGIANS; THEN ENTERED AN AIRPORT RESTAURANT, SHOOTING AND
WOUNDING SEVEN CUSTOMERS.
MARCH, 1984:
KILLED THREE PASSENGERS IN AN ATTACK ON A BUS IN ASHDOD, ISRAEL.
APRIL, 1984:
KILLED ONE AND WOUNDED EIGHT PASSENGERS IN A BUS HIJACKING IN
ASHKELON, ISRAEL.
MAY, 1985:
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR BOMBING AN ISRAELI BUS.
NOVEMBER, 1986:
STABBED TO DEATH A TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD YESHIVA STUDENT ON A STREET
IN THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM.
MAY, 1987:
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR A ROCKET ATTACK ON THE TOWN OF METALLAH
IN THE NORTHERN GALILEE.
JUNE, 1989:
POSSIBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KIDNAPPING OF THE AMERICAN DIRECTOR OF
A RELIEF AGENCY IN THE GAZA STRIP. THE VICTIM WAS EVENTUALLY
RELEASED UNHARMED. THE KIDNAPPER WAS KILLED IN A SHOOT OUT WITH
ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES.
NOVEMBER, 1990:
PFLP GUERRILLAS CLASHED WITH ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES INSIDE ISRAEL'S
SELF-DECLARED SECURITY ZONE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON. FIVE ISRAELI
SOLDIERS AND TWO PFLP GUERRILLAS WERE KILLED.
DECEMBER, 1990:
AN ISRAELI BORDER POLICEMAN WAS SHOT AND SERIOUSLY WOUNDED WHILE HE
WAS MONITORING A DEMONSTRATION AT A REFUGEE CAMP IN THE GAZA STRIP.
THE PFLP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.
JANUARY, 1991:
A PAN AMERICAN AIRLINES OFFICE IN TURIN, ITALY WAS FIREBOMBED.
A PERSON CLAIMING TO REPRESENT THE PFLP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.
JULY, 1991:
AN ISRAELI MOTORIST WAS SHOT AND WOUNDED WHILE DRIVING IN THE GAZA.
THE PFLP AND DFLP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.
OCTOBER, 1991:
TERRORISTS ATTACKED A BUS IN THE GAZA, KILLING TWO ISRAELI SETTLERS
AND WOUNDING FIVE. THE PFLP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FROM DAMASCUS.
JANUARY, 1992:
AN ISRAELI BUS AND CAR DRIVING IN THE WEST BANK WERE ATTACKED NEAR
THE TOWN OF RAMALLAH. SIX SETTLERS WERE WOUNDED. BOTH THE PFLP
AND THE PIJ CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.
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THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS DERIVED FROM DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
AND PUBLIC MEDIA SOURCE DOCUMENTS.