A Voice of Extremism

BY far the most extreme of the fedayeen groups is the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an outfit of perhaps 2,000 men that has taken credit for such spectaculars as the hijacking of one El Al airliner, the shooting up of two others, the bombing of the Tel Aviv central bus station and a Jerusalem supermarket, and the blowing up of the Aramco pipeline--its most recent exploit. It is led by left-leaning Dr. George Habash, 44, a Palestinian Arab from Lydda who long ago turned from medicine to the violent practice of Palestine politics. Last week, in a rare interview, TIME Correspondent Lee Griggs talked with Habash in PFLP headquarters in Amman and heard a typical fedayeen voice--fanatical, boastful, uncompromising. Some questions and answers:

Why has the organization which you lead concentrated on sabotage, attacking El Al planes, and performing other "spectaculars"?

Frankly, we need the shock value, not for personal publicity but for the whole Palestine cause. We had to shock both an indifferent world and a demoralized Palestine nation. We must make it clear to our own people and all the world that there can be no political solution short of a return to Palestine.

If Arab governments agree to a peaceful settlement short of a return to Palestine, will you oppose them as well as Israel?

Of course. If any government tries to stop us, we will have to defend ourselves against that government, whether or not it is Arab. We will not start the battle against Arab regimes, but if they try to stop us from fighting to regain our homeland, conflict is inevitable.

Does not the blowing up of the pipeline, which you have said is aimed at American interests, also hurt Arab interests at the same time?

It may, but that is no concern of ours. There are many Arab millionaires made rich by oil, or by representing Western companies. It is not right that they should be rich while we are both poor and homeless. They are indirectly the agents of the U.S., which aids Israel. I know blowing up the tap-line hurts Saudi Arabia. But, Saudi Arabia is a reactionary regime, and it sells its oil to those who support Israel. It is too bad for Saudi Arabia that she may suffer. Our main aim remains American interests.

Does Israeli retaliation for your raids, which often kills innocent Arab civilians, bother you?

No. It is exactly what we want, for we are totally against any peaceful solution that leaves behind an Israel. And this is the only possible peaceful solution in prospect. That means to us "Stay in your tents forever with no homeland." Actually, Israel helps our cause by retaliating, for it angers the people and diminishes chances for a peaceful solution, which we cannot accept.

Will there be other "spectaculars"?

Yes, there must be. We must mobilize our people, and to do so we must continue our present policies.

What we are after is liberation of Palestine. If we must blow up a dozen El Al planes to do it, then we will. Liberation is only accomplished by consistent and insistent popular war.

How long do you think liberation might take?

I can't imagine our achieving it in less than ten years, maybe twenty years. But however long liberation takes, we are ready. Our only aim is a democratic, non-Zionist Palestine.

Does it matter to you that the Middle East crisis might develop into a world war?

Not really. The world has forgotten Palestine. Now it must pay attention to our struggle. No matter what happens to the Arab world or the whole world, we will keep fighting to leave our tents and go home. Whoever opposes our fight will have to fight us. If the world thinks the commando movement is superficial, it is much mistaken. It is the only way open to us to go home.

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