KGB memorandum. ANDROPOV to BREZHNEV about meeting between KGB station chief in Lebanon and Wadie HADDAD, leader of the PFLP-EO (People’s Liberation Front of Palestine – External Operations). Future collaboration discussed (2 pp). [Russian: 23 April 1974,1071-A-ov]

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[page one of two]

TOP SECRET
Special Importance
Special File

USSR Committee of State Security [KGB]
of the USSR Council of Ministers
23 April 1974
No.1071-A/ov
Moscow

To Comrade L.I.Brezhnev

Since 1968 the KGB has maintained secret working contact with Wadie Haddad, Politburo member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), head of the PFLP’s external operations section.

In a confidential conversation in April this year at a meeting with the KGB station chief in Lebanon, Wadie Haddad outlined a long-term program of sabotage and terrorism by the PFLP, which can be summarised as follows.

The main aim of special actions by the PFLP is to increase the effectiveness of the struggle of the Palestinian resistance movement against Israel, Zionism and American imperialism. Arising from this, the planned sabotage and terrorist operations will mainly be directed towards:

• employing special means to prolong the “oil war” of Arab countries against the imperialist forces supporting Israel,
• carrying out operations against American and Israeli personnel in third countries with the aim of securing reliable information about the plans and intentions of the USA and Israel,
• carrying out acts of sabotage and terrorism on the territory of Israel,
• organizing acts of sabotage against the Diamond Centre, whose basic capital derives from Israeli, British, Belgian and West German companies.

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[page two]

In order to implement the above measures, the PFLP is currently preparing a number of special operations, including strikes against large oil-storage installations in various countries (Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf, Hong Kong et al), the destruction of oil tankers and super-tankers, actions against American and Israeli representatives in Iran, Greece, Ethiopia and Kenya, an attack on the Diamond Centre in Tel Aviv, etc.

Haddad has requested that we help his organization to procure several kinds of special technology necessary for carrying out certain sabotage operations.

In cooperating with us and appealing for our help, W. Haddad is fully aware of our opposition to terrorism in principle, and has not raised any questions with us concerning this area of the PFLP’s activities.

The nature of our relations with W. Haddad allows us a degree of control over the activities of the PFLP’s external operations section, to exercise an influence favourable to the USSR, and also to achieve some of our own aims through the activities of his organisation while preserving the necessary secrecy.

In view of the above, we feel it would be expedient, at the next meeting, to give a generally favourable response to the request of Wadie Haddad for special assistance to the People’s Front for the Liberation of Palestine. As for specific issues in the supply of such aid, it is envisaged that every instance will be decided on an individual basis, in accordance with the interests of the Soviet Union and averting any possible harm to the security of our country.

We request your agreement

Chairman of the State Security Committee

[signed] Andropov

[Across the top of the first page, Brezhnev wrote: “Inform Comrades Suslov, M.A., Podgorny N.V., Kosygin A.N., Grechko A.A., Gromyko A.A. (circulate)”. The signatures of the named comrades, in the above order, follow that of Brezhnev in the left-hand margin.

At the end of the last page, there is a handwritten addition: “Consent reported to the KGB of the USSR (Comrade Laptev P.P.) 26 April 1974.”]

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NOTES

Wadie Haddad (1927-1978), formed the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine with George Habash in 1968 and, from a base in Jordan, organised a succession of aircraft hijackings. He died in East Berlin.

General

• 1. Notes and additions by translator and editor are bracketed, thus [ ];
• 2. Text added by hand is indicated in italic script;
• 3. when a handwritten phrase, figure or word has been inserted in a previously typed document it is indicated by underlined italic script.

Translation, John Crowfoot