Regional Arab Politics and the Conflict with Israel.

An analysis of aspects of the relations among the Arab states that have inhibited them from following more effective policies toward Israel. In spite of the arguments in favor of pan-Arabism offered by Arab political and intellectual leaders, the problem of unity cannot be separated from the practical diplomatic interests of diverse Arab states. Egypt, the most powerful of these, possesses distinct national needs and attitudes that do not always accord with those of the others. In addition to disunity, Arab policy toward Israel has been affected by a lack of military, economic, and diplomatic support, and by the Arab states' failure to decide clearly and realistically on their long-range objectives in the war. The actions of the individual states toward each other and toward Israel in the next decade can be expected to feel the impact of the 1967 War, most probably through the exacerbation rather than the amelioration of strife that has continued over the past 20 years. 57 pp