NCJ Number
62560
Date Published
1974
Length
246 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK PRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT, INCLUDING MILITARY AND POLITICAL TACTICS, OF THE RISE, EXPANSION, PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES, AND GENERAL DECLINE OF ARAB GUERRILLA POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST FROM 1967 TO 1972.
Abstract
THE ARAB GUERRILLA STRUGGLE AGAINST THE ISRAELIS AND THE INTERNAL CONFLICT OF THE VARIOUS GUERRILLA GROUPS IS DETAILED, WITH EMPHASIS PLACED ON THE BASIC GUERRILLA GOAL OF ATTEMPTING TO GAIN POWER WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY. A THREE-SIDED CONFLICT EMERGED WITH THE FEDAYEEN (THE GUERRILLAS), THE ARAB STATES, AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER. THE FEYADEEN LEADERSHIP SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH AN ARAB-CONTROLLED PALESTINE BY ELIMINATING THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND BECOMING A UNIFYING COHESIVE FORCE FOR ALL THE DISPLACED ARAB REFUGEES. HOWEVER, THESE GOALS WERE NOT ACHIEVED FOR SEVERAL REASONS: (1) GUERILLAS LACK OF COMPREHENSION OF REVOLUTIONARY GUERRILLA WARFARE; (2) ANTAGONISM AMONG MANY OF THE GUERRILLA GROUPS PLUS INTERFIGHTING AMONG ARAB STATES; (3) LACK OF AN OUTSTANDING LEADER WHO MIGHT HAVE UNIFIED THEM; AND (4) NO COMPREHENSION THAT GOVERNMENTS WOULD NOT WILLINGLY TOLERATE AN ORGANIZATION THEY COULD NOT CONTROL OR ALLOW ANY GROUP TO HAVE POWER WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY. ATTITUDES TOWARD THE FEYADEEN VARIED, BUT THE OVERRIDING ONE WAS THAT ALL ARAB GOVERNMENTS WANTED THE GUERRILLAS TO PROSPER IN, AND OPERATE FROM, ANY ARAB COUNTRY OTHER THAN THEIR OWN. THE BELIEF THAT REVOLUTIONARY GUERRILLA WARFARE AND COMMANDO INCURSIONS WOULD CREATE SUCH CHAOS THAT ISRAEL WOULD BE FORCED TO HAND OVER POWER TO THE PALESTINIANS PROVED FALSE. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE OTHER ARAB TERRORIST GROUPS, SUCH AS THE PALESTINIAN LIBERATION ORGANIZATION AND THE ISLAMIC LIBERATION PARTY. SEVERAL MAPS AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)