NCJ Number
62743
Journal
Military Review Volume: 52 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1972) Pages: 27-34
Date Published
1972
Length
8 pages
Annotation
DISADVANTAGES FACED BY ARAB GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS ARE DISCUSSED REGARDING THE POLICIES OF ARAB GOVERNMENTS AND THE ISRAELI COUNTERMEASURES.
Abstract
THE INSTABILITY OF ARAB GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR INCONSISTENT TREATMENT OF ARAB GUERRILLAS HAVE PLAGUED THE FEDAYEEN ORGANIZATIONS AND STUNTED THEIR GROWTH AND EFFECTIVENESS. ALTHOUGH THE LATE PRESIDENT NASSER OF EGYPT APPROVED OF AL FATAH, THE GUERRILLA GROUP LED BY YASSIR ARAFAT, HE NEVER PERMITTED IT TO BECOME EFFECTIVE IN THE UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC. PRESIDENT SADAT HAS FOLLOWED A SIMILAR POLICY IN HIS TREATMENT OF THE MORE EXTREME, VIOLENT, AND UNCONTROLLABLE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE AND THE POPULAR DEMOCRATIC FRONT. IN 1970, KING HUSSEIN BEGAN AN ATTACK ON THE FEDAYEEN THAT WAS TO DRIVE THE GUERRILLAS FROM JORDAN'S CITIES AND STRONGHOLDS; THIS ACTION WAS MET BY ONLY VERBAL ABUSE AND VAGUE DIPLOMATIC ACTION BY VARIOUS ARAB GOVERNMENTS. LACK OF HELP FOR THE FEDAYEEN IN ADVERSITY HAS ALSO BEEN NOTABLE IN IRAQ AND SYRIA WHICH RESTRICTED FEDAYEEN ACTIVITIES IN THEIR TERRITORIES AFTER HUSSEIN'S DRASTIC ACTION. ARAB GOVERNMENTS CURB GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO AVOID BECOMING TARGETS FOR ISRAELI REPRISALS OR ENGAGE IN ANOTHER WAR WITH ISRAEL. THE FEDAYEEN'S AIM OF RESTORING AN ARAB PALESTINE AND OBLITERATING THE STATE OF ISRAEL HAVE MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS DUE TO THE DOCILE ATTITUDE OF ARABS LIVING IN ISRAEL, LACK OF FUNDS, QUARRELS AMONG THE DIVERSE GROUPS OF ARAB GUERRILLAS, SWIFT AND HARSH ISRAELI REACTION TO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, AND RESTRICTIONS BY ARAB GOVERNMENTS. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE LACK OF FOREIGN AND ESPECIALLY WESTERN SUPPORT, THE EFFICIENT ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, SHORTAGE OF WEAPONS AND SUPPLIES, AND THE DIFFICULTY IN PERSUADING OUTSIDERS THAT THEY ARE ACHIEVING RESULTS. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)