The
Palestine Liberation Organization (
PLO) (; ) is an organization founded in 1964 with the purpose of the "liberation of Palestine" through armed struggle. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people" by over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed observer status at the
United Nations since 1974. The PLO was considered by the United States and Israel to be a terrorist organization until the
Madrid Conference in 1991. In 1993, the PLO recognized Israel's
right to exist in peace, accepted
UN Security Council resolutions 242 and
338, and rejected "violence and terrorism"; in response, Israel officially recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.