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.
Ref - The Moral Vision
- by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
