East German intelligence report on relationships and splits within the Palestine Liberation Organization.

The agreement contains the basic elements of SED-PLO relations for 1978/1979, such as the exchange of delegations to consider bilateral relations and the fight against Zionism and imperialism, material support for civil and military purposes, and the exchange of leading personnel of different mass organizations.

List of GDR material support for the PLO between 1974 and 1980. The form, quantity and value of the support are listed in detail for each year.

This is an excerpt of a conversation which appears in full at BA-SAPMO J IV 2/201/1416. The conversation opens with the issue of French-Israeli relations. France plans to deliver a nuclear reactor to Israel to the opposition of the Arab world. Also mentioned are the deliveries of arms from the GDR to the PLO. Arafat reports on the use of chemical weapons by Israel in Lebanon. These weapons were reportedly delivered by the FRG. Israel also seems to use biological weapons. Final topics of discussion are the role of the Pope in Poland, the question of Jerusalem, and the Islamic movement in Afghanistan.

This memorandum contains a list of military supplies that were supposed to be delivered to the Al Ansar group, a Palestinian militant group founded by the initiative of the Jordanian Communist Party with the aim to drive the Israeli forces behind the border lines of 5 June 1966. The justification for the delivery is that the Al Ansar group is small and ill-equipped. The final word on whether these supplies were delivered is not contained in the document.

The report evaluates the internal situation of the PLO, which lost its bases in southern Lebanon and is exposed to increased pressure by Arab governments. The report describes the conflict between Arafat and the Syrian branch of the PLO and notes the increase in Syrian influence following a violent incident in Tripoli, in which Arafat and the Muslim Brothers were supposedly involved. Regardless of Syria's strength, the report states that Arafat has shown no inclination to work with the Syrian government. It concludes that a split seems likely, especially since Arafat has oriented himself towards the reactionary Arab forces.

The conversation focuses on the PLO's recent attempts to reach an agreement concerning the conflict in the Middle East. Arafat informs Honecker about his efforts to gain support for his initiative from the US and other countries.

The conversation is mainly concerned with the situation in the Middle East, but there are also some remarks about Poland, Afghanistan, and French-Israeli relations. Honecker emphasizes that only the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state can solve the Middle East conflict. He underlines the continuing support of the GDR for the PLO, for example, through military aid and the opening of an official PLO embassy in Berlin. Arafat points to the West German support for Israel and asks for further military aid.

The conversation deals with permanent PLO representation in the GDR. The PLO has had official representation since 1978, with the opening of a PLO embassy in Berlin. The PLO ambassador points out that this status necessarily leads to more expenses. He applies for more GDR funding.

Fischer forwards greetings and thanks from Arafat, as well as Arafat's request that 40 wounded soldiers and civilians be accepted by the GDR. Fischer proposes to fulfill Arafat's appeal.