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June 20, 1967

On Soviet Policy following the Israeli Aggression in the Middle East

Polish document describing the speech given by Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev to the Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CC CPSU) on the actions undertaken by the Soviet leadership before and during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Brezhnev tells the CC CPSU plenum that the Arab struggle in the Middle East has both a class struggle and a national liberation dimension. Brezhnev blames Israeli aggression for the start of the war and Arab blunders and low morale for the humiliating defeat of the UAR forces. Given the success of the Israeli Defense Forces, the Soviets were forced to consider diplomatic and political methods for saving the Arab leadership. When Israeli forces did not stop their aggression against Syria, threatening to overrun the Syrian capital of Damascus, Brezhnev claims tells the CC CPSU that Soviet leadership warned the Americans that the Soviet Army would have to intervene and, at the same time, threatened the Israeli that any further actions would result in Soviet involvement in the war. Brezhnev claims that, since the war ended just hours after the Soviets had made their threats, the imperialist powers acquiesced to Soviet demands. This documents is a translation of the version the Soviet leadership sent to the United Polish Workers’ Party for the information of the Polish leadership.

April 22, 1980

Minutes of Conversation between Todor Zhivkov and Yasser Arafat, Damascus

The two leaders discuss the situation in the Middle East, and the role of the superpowers - the US and the Soviet Union.

June 7, 1949

Untitled report regarding a trip to Damascus

The Journalist Informer's report on his meeting with Ḥusnī al-Za'īm, the Za'īm regime and security apparatus, Syrian-Lebanese relations and Za'īm's attitude towards Riyaḍ al-Sulḥ.

August 21, 1948

Report from the Republic of Syria, Army and Military Forces' General Command, Deuxième Bureau

Account of recent findings, including Syrian opposition activities, the discovery of Jehovah's Witnesses, and an attempted rebellion in Jordan.

January 16, 1971

Meeting of Arab Communist Parties in Damascus

Report on a conference of Arab Communist parties, held to discuss the political situation in the Middle East and a list of those in attendance.