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FIRE AND STEEL FOR PALESTINE

NCJ Number
62221
Journal
Fortune Volume: 82 Issue: 1 Dated: (JULY 1970) Pages: 84-89,135-136
Author(s)
J M MECKLIN
Date Published
1970
Length
8 pages
Annotation
DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE COURSE OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT ARE REVIEWED, NOTABLY THE VIGOR OF PALESTINIAN ARAB NATIONALISM.
Abstract
PALESTINIANS HAVE A DEEPER STAKE IN THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT THAN ESTABLISHED ARAB GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR HOMELAND. THE PALESTINIAN RESISTANCE MOVEMENT THE FEDAYEEN IS PRIMARILY DIRECTED AGAINST ISRAEL, BUT IT ALSO CONTAINS STRONG LEFT-WING ELEMENTS OPPOSED TO TRADITIONAL ARAB RULERS. PALESTINIANS ARE INCREASINGLY TURNING AGAINST THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE U.S. LINK WITH ISRAEL. THE MILITARY EFFECTIVENESS OF FEDAYEEN OPERATIONS AGAINST ISRAEL, INCLUDING GUERRILLA RAIDS, SABOTAGE, SNIPERS, AND ROCKET AND MORTAR ATTACKS, HAS BEEN LIMITED SO FAR. RAIDS ARE MULTIPLYING, HOWEVER, AND GROWING IN SIZE. PERSISTENT HARASSMENT IS AFFECTING THE MORALE OF ISRAELIS, PROVOKING THEM TO SAVAGE REPRISAL RAIDS WITH TANKS AND AIRCRAFT ACROSS ARAB FRONTIERS. THE EMERGENCE OF THE FEDAYEEN SEEMS TO HAVE DEEPENED THE HOPELESSNESS OF THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT. THE NONNEGOTIABLE POSITION OF THE FEDAYEEN IS ITS STIPULATION THAT PALESTINIAN ARABS RETURN TO THEIR HOMELAND. THIS CONTRASTS WITH ISRAEL'S NONNEGOTIABLE DETERMINATION TO PRESERVE THE JEWISH STATE. THE PALESTINIANS ARE CHARACTERIZED AS AN ARAB ELITE, EMPLOYING GUERRILLA WARFARE TACTICS; THEY ARE NOTED FOR FIERCE INDIVIDUALISM AND LEADERSHIP. VARIOUS FEDAYEEN GROUPS ARE DESCRIBED, AND THEIR THREAT TO THE EXISTING POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS DISCUSSED. THE REACTION OF ISRAEL TO THE FEDAYEEN IS EXAMINED. SOME PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED.

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