Old Habits Die Hard
Learning from history.
The current collaboration between the pro Hamas “Free Palestine” rioters and various Far Left Woke insurgents to destabilize the Trump Administration and undermine MAGA raises serious challenges.
The hijacked German Lufthansa aircraft ‘Landshut’ stands on the tarmac at an airport in Rome, Italy, on October 13, 1977, as onlookers stop their cars at the airport fence to watch. The hijackers forced the crew to fly the plane to Somalia.
Source: Stern © Picture Alliance / AP
Caveat
We must not interpret their activism as a spontaneous act of vandalism. The more we watch and learn, the more obvious it becomes how those groups are coordinated, funded and activated by powerful actors.
The historical roots of that alliancego back to Europe in the beginning of the 70’s, when the Soviet Union supported and exploited those terror groups as a part of its strategy to destabilize the West.
Old habits die hard?
Here are the facts.
1. Ideological Alignment
The Red Army Faction (RAF) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) shared a strong ideological affinity. Both presented themselves as part of a global anti-imperialist struggle, against U.S. dominance, Zionism, Israel and capitalism. The RAF viewed the armed Palestinian resistance as a legitimate fight against colonialism and closely aligned itself with the goals of the PLO, particularly with its Marxist-oriented factions like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The RAF’s founding document “The Urban Guerrilla Concept” (1971) already emphasized the need for international solidarity with revolutionary movements.
2. Military Training in PLO Camps
During the early 1970s, several RAF members traveled to Lebanon and Jordan, where they underwent military training in PLO camps, often under the guidance of the PFLP or Fatah. They were trained in: handling firearms, manufacturing explosives, and urban guerrilla tactics. This training directly influenced later RAF operations in West Germany.
3. Joint Operations
The most prominent example of direct RAF–PLO cooperation is the 1977 hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 181 (“Landshut”) by the “Commando Martyr Halimeh,” affiliated with the PFLP. This operation was coordinated with the RAF to pressure the German government into releasing imprisoned RAF leaders (Baader, Ensslin, Raspe). After the GSG 9 stormed the plane in Mogadishu, the RAF prisoners were found dead in their cells in what became known as the “Death Night of Stammheim.” The event marked the high point of RAF–PLO tactical collaboration.
4. Logistical and Diplomatic Support
The PLO also supported RAF members in more indirect but vital ways: providing false passports and travel documents, offering safe houses and infrastructure in Beirut, Damascus, and elsewhere, and facilitating contact with other international militant groups. Some reports suggest that East German intelligence (Stasi) turned a blind eye, or even lent tacit support, when such cooperation aligned with their interests.
5. Tensions and Limits
Despite the cooperation, there were ideological and strategic tensions. While the RAF focused on urban guerrilla warfare within capitalist Europe, the PLO had a concrete national goal tied to the liberation of Palestine. The RAF’s romanticized view of revolution sometimes clashed with the PLO’s pragmatic approach. Nonetheless, their alliance lasted well into the 1980s, albeit with decreasing intensity as both movements faced internal and external pressures.
6. Conclusion
The RAF–PLO connection was more than symbolic: it involved concrete military training, joint operations, and logistical support. For the RAF, the relationship offered international legitimacy and operational know-how. For the PLO, it helped internationalize the Palestinian cause, especially in Western media and political discourse.