Why did Yasser Arafat try to maintain unity among Palestinian groups in the PLO?

Yasser Arafat sought to maintain unity among the various Palestinian groups within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) primarily because he understood that Palestinian unity was their greatest asset in achieving their political goals.1

Throughout his leadership, Arafat faced significant challenges in keeping the organization cohesive, including:

• External Interference: Various Arab regimes, such as those in Syria and Iraq, frequently attempted to exert influence or control over the PLO by funding and sponsoring rival "Palestinian" organizations within the umbrella group.1
• Internal Rivalries: Unlike other liberation movements that eliminated their competition, Arafat had to navigate the presence of independent-minded and often militant factions—such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine—that frequently disagreed with his leadership and strategic direction.12
• Strategic Autonomy: Arafat recognized that maintaining a unified front was essential to preserving the PLO's autonomy and preventing it from becoming a mere proxy for foreign governments.31

By maneuvering among these constraints, Arafat aimed to ensure that the Palestinian struggle remained a distinctively Palestinian agenda rather than one dictated by external Arab regimes.12