ABSTRACT
After the collapse of Egyptian-Syrian unity, it remained for Nasir to deal with the tattered situation of the Arab world. The Soviet Union, meanwhile, had accomplished its short-term economic objectives; it welcomed the Arab world's own brand of socialism and it provided certain constructive means towards its implementation. The Soviet Union could not avoid the problems of the Arab world, but its involvement in that world had come about by invitation and while it contributed to the economic reconstruction of the Arab world, it also lent a hand in the Arab military build-up. Despite the pitfalls and uncertainties about the future it seems that conditions were still favorable to the Soviet Union; the divisions of the Arab world provided more room for the Soviets to maneuver within it. In the sense that it advocated a military solution to the Arab—Israeli conflict, the PLO was from its creation, a threat to Arab countries sharing borders with Israel, notably Jordan.
