Introduction

One of the assessments to emerge in the wake of the 1982 Lebanon War was that the shattering of the PLO infrastructure in Lebanon would precipitate changes in its pattern of activity against Israel. One possibility to be mooted in this regard was a large scale renewal of terrorist actions against Israeli and Jewish targets outside of Israel, and possibly against countries which provided Israel with support and assistance. The Lebanon War of 1982 dealt a serious blow to the PLO in Lebanon, particularly insofar as its capacity for direct action against Israel was concerned. During 1984 and in the first half of 1985, the terrorist organizations were also busy attempting to reestablish themselves in southern Lebanon and in Beirut, where they fought against Christian and Shi'ite militias. Against this backdrop, there arises the basic question of the value of resorting to terrorist activity outside of Israel, and the most advisable ways to implement it.