the Israeli ruling classes steadfastly refused to negotiate with the Arab regimes.
As a result of their defeat the latter found themselves in a very weak position, and the Palestinian resistance despite its mistakes the Arab masses as the only force Icading the struggle against the Zionists.
The Arab ruling classes had lost face and were unable to get the two "superpowers to exert sufficient pressure to force an Isracli withdrawal from the occupied territories.
It was to break out of this situation that the Arab and Syrian regimes went to war last October. They were able to launch this political operation thanks to the weapons and equipment freely provided by the USSR.
COMPLEX POLICIES
area have become rather complex. The USSR has tried for a number of years to weave itself a privileged relationship With the bourgeois nationalist regimes of Egypt and Syria. To do this it has multiplied the number of its arms deliveries (ultra-modern aircraft, SAM missiles, sophisticated tanks, etc), appeared to The aim of this policy is hardly to defend the just cause of the Palestinians but rather to establish Soviet coonomic and strategic influence in this key area.
Furthermore, it allows the Soviet bureaucracy to adopt an anti-imperialist the regimes which it arms are a guarantee that all revolutionary developments These aims of the Kremlin have met with indifferent success, however. The American and Soviet policies in this and Egypt shows just how difficult it new close relationship between the US is for the Soviet bureaucracy to establish lasting ties with regimes which are fundamentally reactionary.
Until recently the US relied entirely on Israel to safeguard imperialist interests in the area. By massively armingand financing the Zionist State they providtrained military cadres, reorganised the ed themselves with an efficient police-army destroyed in June 1967, and so on man to deal with any revolutionary with the signing of the Israeli-Syrian separation agreement. Like the earlier Israeli-Egyptian agreement at Kilometre 101, this marks a new stage in the Middle East confrontation.
on each side where the amount of armaments is strictly limited.
policy of peaceful co-existence, and how alternative perspectives for struggle can be developed.
As a result, imperialist economic image at very little risk to itself. After all, interests, mainly in oil, were becoming increasingly threatened in the area will be brought under control as a leading counter-revolutionary force, support.
work of 'peaceful co-existence"
But in the Middle Fast - A fortnight ago, on Friday 31 May, Kissinger's diplomatic circus finally achieved its desired result But this policy drove the nationalist repmes back apainst the wall, The anti-Zionist, anti-imperialist pressure of the Arab masses was beconing too strong The confirmation of Saudi Arabia and the liquidation by President Sadat of Egypt of his inheritance from Nasser (special relationship with the USSR), coabled the US to widen its basis of These developments reinforced the desire of both the US and the USSR to reach a rapid solution within the frame NO LASTING SUCCESS as in the tinian people. other flashpoints of the world - the chances of a lasting succeas for peace- the agreement at Geneva, the place For some time now the Chilean junta has been using military court martials ful co-existence are nil. The solutions worked out by the US and the USSR to maintain the status quo founder every time on the revolutionary upheaval of the oppressed masses. The war in Indochina bas been a sctback to their hopes, and any "solution" in Palestine will meet the same fate.
It is true, of course, that the level of organisation and consciousness of the musses in the Middle East is for histori calreasons lower than that of the indo chinese fighters. But their deep anti-imperialist consciousness and their desire to regain their territory will never be snuffed out by some signatures it will not lead this struggle. at the bottom of a sheet of paper. This fact is so obvious that the Arab regimes in the anti-colonialist and anti-imperial have been obliged to give verbal guaran- ist struggle - together with the Palestees about the demands of the PalesHowever, the Syrian regime signed where the 'peace negotiations" are being held. At the same moment the new Israeli prime minister, General Rabin, was declaring: "Israel will not negotiate at Geneva with representativ of terrorist organisations, whether the be participants or simply observers."
STAGE-MANAGED
We do not of gourse say that the Palestinian organisations should take part in the Geneva talks. These talks are being stage-managed by imperialist and the Soviet bureaucracy with the hope of reaching an agreement at the expense of the Palestinian people. We can nevertbeless note the cynicism of the Zionist leaders, who declare quite openly that the Palestinian people can't even have a say in the matter, The Palestinian people still have a long wuy to go in their march to win back their rights. The Syrian regre, which had acquired a bit of prestige in recent months, has shown again with this agreement that Only the Arab masses - hardened tinian resistance will be able to over throw the Zionist State and subdue the interests of imperialism, the hurencracy, and the Arab nationalist regimes
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The present agreement deals solely with the disengagement of the conflicting military forces. It establishes a buffer zone policed by a United Nations force of 1250 soldiers, together with zones What does this agreement mean for the future of the area? Belowwe look at how it reflects the