NCJ Number
52741
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
TERRORISM ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOSTAGE SYSTEM, MURDER, AND TORTURE IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS REVIEWED, EXCLUDING WHAT MAY BE THOUGHT OF AS BATTLEFIELD OR URBAN GUERRILLA WARFARE.
Abstract
THE ARAB FEDAYEEN, OR FREEDOM FIGHTERS, CAME INTO PROMINENCE IN 1965 BUT WAS FAIRLY INEFFECTUAL. IN 1968, THE FEDAYEEN BECAME MUCH MORE NOTORIOUS, AND NUMEROUS GUERRILLA GROUPS STARTED. FEDAYEEN ACTIVITIES INCLUDED TERRORIST RAIDS ACROSS ISRAELI BORDERS, EXPLOSIONS INSIDE ISRAEL, THE ASSASSINATION OF ARABS SUSPECTED OF COLLABORATING WITH ISRAELIS, ATTACKS ON ISRAELI EMBASSIES, AND HIJACKING AIRCRAFT. ONE OF THE MORE DRAMATIC INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT THE WORLD OLYMPIC GAMES IN MUNICH WHEN MEMBERS OF THE BLACK SEPTEMBER ORGANIZATION KILLED 11 ISRAELI ATHLETES IN 1972. THIS ACT OF TERRORISM CAUSED ATTITUDES OF MODERATE ARAB GOVERNMENTS TO HARDEN AGAINST THE FEDAYEEN, AND THEY TOOK WHAT RESTRICTING ACTIONS THEY COULD. THE ISRAELI COUNTER TO ACTIVITIES OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION, THE ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROLLING AND COORDINATING FEDAYEEN EFFORTS, WAS TO MOUNT RAIDS ON CAMPUS IN ADJACENT ARAB TERRITORY WHERE IT WAS SUSPECTED THAT TERRORISTS LIVED, TO BLOW UP BUILDINGS, AND TO MAKE AIR STRIKES. RESTRICTED BY THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL ARAB STATES, FEDAYEEN TERRORISTS MADE CONTACT WITH INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS, SUCH AS THE JAPANESE RED ARMY. TERRORIST OPERATIONS ARE BASED ON CREATING AND EXPLOITING FEAR. LIKE GUERRILLA FIGHTERS IN THE FIELD, TERRORISTS MUST HAVE A SANCTUARY AND THE IDEAL IS TO HAVE THE COOPERATION OF AN ADJACENT COUNTRY SYMPATHETIC TO THEIR CAUSE. (DEP)