On 4 February 1969, the Palestine National Congress appointed Yasser Arafat as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), marking a pivotal shift in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.
Arafat, already a prominent figure as the leader of Fatah, brought a militant and grassroots-driven approach to the PLO, transforming it into the principal representative body of the Palestinian people.
His leadership heralded an era of intensified resistance against Israeli occupation, diplomatic manoeuvring on the global stage, and internal consolidation of various Palestinian factions.
This appointment would shape the trajectory of the Palestinian cause for decades, cementing Arafat as its most recognisable and controversial figure.
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