American interests in the Middle East will be the target of continuing Arab commando raids, the leader of the fedayeen group which recently blew up the American-owned Aramco pipeline in the Golan Heights told Time Magazine. Dr. George Habash of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, whose group also claims responsibility for the hijacking of an El Al plane and the shooting up of two others, said that in the future “our main aim remains American interests.”
The left-wing commando leader said “it is too had” if the destruction of oil pipelines also hurt Arab countries but that “there are many Arab millionaires made rich by oil, or by representing Western countries…(who) are indirectly the agents of the U.S., which aids Israel.” Dr. Habash said the raids were done largely for their “shock value.” “We had to shock both an indifferent world,” he said, “and a demoralized Palestine nation. We must make it clear to our own people and all the world there can be no peaceful, political solution short of a return to Palestine.”
Dr. Habash is opposed to seeking peace with Israel. “We will not start the battle against Arab regimes,” he said, “but if they try to stop us from fighting to regain our homeland, conflict is inevitable.” Dr. Habash was gratified by Israeli retaliation for commando raids because they “anger the (Arab) people” and diminish chances for a peaceful solution, “which we cannot accept.” He expects his struggle to last 10 to 20 years.
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