Abstract
This chapter examines Soviet policy towards the Arab—Israeli conflict in the larger context of Middle Eastern politics since the Arab—Israeli war of 1973. Traditionally, the Soviet Union has seized upon the Arab—Israeli conflict and tried to create an ‘anti-imperialist’ Arab unity directed against Israel and its primary Western supporter, the United States, as a major vehicle for increasing its influence in the Middle East. Some of the most complex problems confronting observers of Middle Eastern events since the October 1973 war relate to Soviet intentions regarding an Arab—Israeli peace settlement. On the basis of the evidence available, it would appear as if the USSR is indeed interested in an Arab—Israeli settlement, if one can be reached on Soviet terms. Following the signing of the Egyptian—Israeli disengagement agreement, the momentum of Middle Eastern events seemed to favour the United States.
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