Uri Avnery peace activist, journalist, writer. He was a founding member of Gush Shalom (peace bloc), an independent peace movement, a former publisher and editor-in-chief of Haolam Hazeh news magazine. Avnery is also a former member of the Knesset and a founding member of the Israeli Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
Website: Syria's warring factions held together only by dictator.
by Uri Avnery
On A flight to London in 1961, I had a unique experience.
On the way, the plane made a stop in Athens and a group of Arabs joined us. That by itself was an experience. In those days, Israelis hardly ever met people from Arab countries.
Three young Arabs took seats in the row behind me, and I somehow managed to introduce myself and start a conversation with them. I learned that they were Syrians. I mentioned the recent breakup of the United Arab Republic, the union of Egypt and Syria under the pan-Arab leadership of Gamal Abd-al-Nasser.