Beginning in the late 1960s, which nationality was the leading practitioner of international terrorism?

The leading practitioner of international terrorism beginning in the late 1960s was predominantly associated with the Palestinian nationality. This period saw a significant rise in high-profile attacks attributed to Palestinian groups, particularly as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict intensified. Organizations such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and its various factions employed tactics including hijackings, bombings, and hostage crises to draw global attention to their political aims.

These groups operated on an international scale, targeting not only Israeli interests but also Western governments, media, and civilians to promote their cause and challenge perceived injustices. Their actions led to widespread media coverage, making them symbols of a new form of international terrorism that was distinct from earlier national or ideological movements.

While Irish, Chechen, and Basque nationalist movements also engaged in acts of terrorism around this time, their reach and impact on the global stage were not as profound or defining as that of Palestinian groups during the same era. Thus, the focus and notoriety of Palestinian terrorism during the late 1960s through subsequent decades makes it the most recognized nationality for international terrorism in that period.