Recognition of PLO

At the Rabat Arab Summit Conference, the PLO is recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, complicating King Hussein’s attempts to restore the West Bank and East Jerusalem to Jordanian control. The PLO is provided observer status at the UN. Egyptian president Sadat cleverly pushed for the PLO’s exclusive status as Palestinian negotiating representative, knowing that Israel would not under any circumstances negotiate with the PLO — leaving only the Egyptian front as a possible avenue for progress with Israel in negotiations.