Palestine Liberation Organization:
Force 17

PLO: Table of Contents | History & Overview | National Charter

Force 17 was a security apparatus of the PLO entrusted with the protection of Yasser Arafat and with preserving stability and order within the Palestinian Authority.

At its peak, the organization was comprised of 3,500 operatives. The organization was equipped with light weapons and even had BRDM-2 armored vehicles with which to conduct patrolling activities on the streets of Palestinian cities and along the border with Israel.

In 2007, Force 17 was dismantled and incorporated into the Presidential Guard of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Sources: Israeli Foreign Ministry; Wikipedia