SYND 12-8-73 INTERVIEW WITH ARAB GUERRILLA LEADER GEORGE HABASH
Interview · Palestine & Anti-Zionism · August 12, 1973 · 01:56
George Habash
Summary
In this interview, Palestinian guerrilla leader George Habash discusses the Israeli interception of an Iraqi civilian plane, denouncing it as the climax of state terrorism while pointing out the hypocrisy of Israeli and American accusations of terrorism against Palestinians. He confirms he was a target of the operation and suggests CIA involvement in Lebanon facilitated Israeli actions. The conversation highlights broader Middle Eastern conflict dynamics and anti-imperialist rhetoric.
Transcript (diarized)
Speaker 1: George, the Israeli interception of an Iraqi plane is the latest of a never-ending series of incidents in the Middle Eastern conflict. What do you think of that particular incident?
George Habash: You see, I think that incident is the climax of what you call terrorism. Israel and Mr. Nixon in particular, have been talking about terrorism since more than one year. And they were excusing— accusing our people of terrorism. And now the case is very clear. For Israeli military airplanes to come here to the Lebanon and take by force a civilian aeroplane and force it to land in Israel, this is the climax of terrorism. It's time for world opinion to know who are actually the terrorists. General Dayan said that you were one of the targets. Were you actually going to be on that plane? Well, to be frank, the answer is yes. It was planned that I and 2 of my comrades It was planned that we go on that plane. How do you think they knew? Well, this is the question that is pressing on my mind. But I know one thing, that here the American Embassy is doing all the jobs of any Israeli embassy all over the world. And I know also that the agents of the CIA are freely doing what they like to do here in the Lebanon.