Disunity:
The Enemy’s Weapon

Israel’s former minister of defence, Moshe Dayan (1915-1981), wrote in his autobiography, The Story of My Life, “The Arabs, disunited and at odds with one another over every issue, big and small, present no threat.”

1983 has seen the PLO disunited and at odds with one another. After their expulsion from Lebanon, a large proportion of Palestinians are dissatisfied with Yasir Arafat’s leadership. They have united behind Abu Musa in their attempt to dislodge the veteran PLO leader. But Yasir Arafat is not willing to step down. Thus, the Palestinians are split up into two groups and are fighting it out amongst themselves.

Reporting these events, The Washington Post has quoted this statement of the Israeli Foreign Minister, Yitzhak Shamir, “I must say that it is good for Israel that there are domestic quarrels, breakups and divisions within the organization of the PLO.” In addition, The Washington Post has quoted an Israeli defence ministry official as saying that there is a belief in Israel that the increased intensity of the revolt against Mr. Arafat in northern and eastern Lebanon has reduced the number of attacks against Israeli soldiers in the south last week. In the same vein, another official said, “They are busy among themselves, and that is good for us.” (Guardian Weekly, July 3, 1983).

To fight with one’s friends is to become one’s own worst enemy. It is to destroy oneself as one’s enemies are always seeking to do.