The PLO had established its major base…
September 1970 CE
The PLO had established its major base of operations for the war against Israel in Jordan following the June 1967 War.
Within Jordan, an understanding has been reached whereby the royal government allows the Palestinian guerrillas independent control of their own bases in the Jordan Valley, but relations between the government and the guerrillas remain uneasy.
A cycle of Palestinian guerrilla attacks followed by Israeli retaliatory raids against Jordan throughout the late 1960s has caused much damage to Jordan.
The guerrillas suspect King Hussein—who has to face the damage inflicted upon his country by Israeli reprisals—of preparing to reach a direct settlement with Israel at their expense.
Hussein's relations with the PLO, which under the leadership of Yasser Arafat openly challenges the king's control in East Jordan, in September 1970 reach a crisis.
Militant factions of the PLO previously had stated "the road to Tel Aviv lies through Amman".
The PFLP, under the leadership of Habash, on September 6-9 hijacks to a Jordanian airstrip four international airliners (American, Swiss, and British) with more than three hundred people aboard.
PFLP terrorists threaten to destroy the aircraft with the passengers aboard, unless Palestinian guerrillas detained in Europe and Israel are released.