The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) was formed by one of the former Arab National Movement (ANM) founders and leaders George Habash. Following the disastrous war of June 1967, it became clear to the ANM leaders that the Palestine section of the ANM should move toward armed struggle. In doing so, Palestinians would become leaders in their own right and establish themselves as the vanguard of the Palestinian and Arab political struggles. This would mark a change in the region, as fellow Arab nations, mainly Egypt and Jordan, since 1948 acted as the main representatives of the Palestinian people and movement.
In December 1967, three Palestinian commando groups, the Revenge Youth, Heroes of Return, and the Palestine Liberation Front combined to form the PFLP. Multiple splits had occurred soon after the founding of the PFLP due to political differences amongst the various leaders. These differences essentially boiled down to the Marxist direction in which the PFLP were moving. Some criticised what they deemed excessive focus on Marxist theory, while others criticised the leadership as being petit-bourgeois and insufficient for leading Proletarian struggle. By October the following year, the Palestine Liberation Front wing had split from the group to form the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC). Then come February 1969 a further split within the movement occurred which led to the creation of the Popular Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PDFLP). Although there were other smaller splits too, the two aforementioned groups remain intact today.
The PFLP were a progressive Marxist-Leninist organisation, emphasising Marxist philosophy and practice while also pursuing armed struggle. The group was highly influenced by China and Mao-Tse Tung, as well as Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap, both of whom employed guerilla warfare to achieve their revolutionary victories. Unlike other Palestinian National movements, the PFLP saw that the enemies of their struggle was not solely the Zionist state of Israel. Their enemies included the Imperialist nations across the globe as well as reactionary Arab regimes who actively supported and legitimised this state which continues to ethnically cleanse and commit genocide against Palestinians today. The following document, Strategy for the Liberation of Palestine, was issued by the PFLP following their second congress in 1969. This document serves as the political basis and thought of the Front. It thoroughly examines the enemies of the movement, discusses the Palestinian Bourgeoisie and the forces of revolution amongst the rest of the Arab world. This document also highlights the need for revolutionary theory to go hand in hand with revolutionary practice and organisation in order to achieve their revolutionary goal.
