THE SOVIET-PALESTINIAN CONNECTION SINCE THE OCTOBER 1973 WAR

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06646358
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 35
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: November 28, 2017
• Case Number: F-2017-00351
• Publication Date: April 1, 1975

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Research Study
The Soviet-Palestinian Connection
Since the October 1973 War
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Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
OFFICE OF POLITICAL RESEARCH
THE SOVIET-PALESTINIAN CONNECTION
SINCE THE OCTOBER 1973 WAR
APRIL 1975
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502446 3-75
The Middle East from Moscow
NOTE
In the preparation of this study, the Office of Political Research consulted
other offices of the Central Intelligence Agency. Their comments and suggestions
were appreciated and used, but no formal attempt at coordination was under-
taken. In general, the paper is geared to the reader with background knowledge
of both the Middle East and the USSR. For those interested, however, a brief
glossary of key Palestinian groups mentioned in the paper attached. The cutoff
date on information contained in the paper is 31 March 1975. Comments would
be welcomed by the author (b)(3)
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CONTENTS
Page
PRINCIPAL JUDGMENTS
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THE DISCUSSION
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I. FACTORS AFFECTING SOVIET POLICY TOWARDS
PALESTINIANS
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A. The Frustration of Soviet Postwar Expectations
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B. Mutual Inducements to Close Ties
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C. Areas of Difference
7
D. The Shifting and Conflicting Goals of Arab Clients
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E. Soviet Perceptions of the US Posture
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II. THE EVOLVING SOVIET POSTURE ON PALESTINE
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A. The Initial Ambiguity of Soviet Policy
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B. The Shift in Spring 1974
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C. Moscow Endorses PLO Rejection of Egyptian Efforts
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D. Soviet Qualms Emerge in Fall 1974
13
E. Renewed Soviet Movement Toward Palestinians in 1975
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III. SOVIET EFFORTS TO MANIPULATE THE PLO
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A. Use of Military Assistance
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B. Political Maneuvering Within the PLO
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1. Endorsement of the PDFLP
21
2. Soviet Views on a Palestinian Government-in-Exile
23
IV. PROSPECTS
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A. The Soviet View of Geneva
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B. Soviet Calculations About a Palestinian State
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1. Borders and Territorial Ambitions
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2. Composition and Political Allegiance
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GLOSSARY: MAJOR PALESTINIAN GROUPS
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FIGURES
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Figure 1. The Middle East from Moscow (map) iii
Figure 2. The Middle East ( map) viii
Figure 3. Yasir Arafat, PLO Head (photo) 7
Figure 4. Israeli Boundaries from 1947 to 1974 (map) 10
Figure 5. Sadat and Husayn Issue Joint Statement (photo) 11
Figure 6. Podgorny Endorses Palestinian Statehood (photo) 13
Figure 7. Arafat Addresses UN Session�November 1974 (photo) 14
Figure 8. Brezhnev Again Cancels Cairo Visit�December 1974 (photo) 16
Figure 9. Fahmy and Gromyko Fail To Reconcile Differences (photo) 17
Figure 10. Arafat and Hawatmah Inspect Military Equipment in Yugo-
slavia�November 1974 (photo) 20
Figure 11. PDFLP Leader Naif Hawatmah (photo) 22
Figure 12. Soviet Ambassador Azimov (photo) 23
Figure 13. Possible Palestinian Borders (map) 25
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