Arab guerrillas
It is probably too much to hope that Arab governments will have the sense to see for themselves the implications of the most recent clash in Beirut between the indigenous Phalganist party and the Palestine guerrillas. Yet, the clash itself opens up again the possibility of a running conflict between forces supporting the status quo in, and the independence of, Lebanon and the fanatical guerrilla forces, who have already brought much suffering to the country which they use as one of their more important bases. Never has the Lebanese government been strong enough to do what it clearly wishes — eliminate the guerrillas as a factor in Lebanese politics, and settle down to a peaceful rather than a militarist support for Arab claims against Israel. At the same time, in Jordan, King Hussein, who did succeed in crushing the guerrillas, has been forced by combined Arab pressure to yield to them in the matter of future territorial claims. The longer Israel holds out — and her likely victory in a future war — the more likely is it that many Arab governments will keep a discontented viper, in the form of guerrillas, nesting in their bosoms. Then they will have to look to their own security.
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