ABSTRACT

Immediately after the signing of the first disengagement agreement between Israel and Egypt on 18 January 1974, Damascus started an abusive campaign against Egypt. This not unexpected campaign was carried out through the media and through diplomatic channels, and was directed above all at the Arab world. President Assad personally took part in this campaign, but the major role was played by his Foreign Minister, Abd El-Halim Khaddam. Assad and Khaddam accused Egypt of betraying the Arab cause in general and its only partner in the October War in particular. In Egypt, we were following closely the Syrian campaign of defamation and receiving envoys from throughout the Arab world conveying the Syrian viewpoint. I was not very worried, however, because I was sure that the Syrian campaign would not last and that ultimately everybody, including Syria, would realise that the facts did not support the charges.