Massacre of Israeli Olympic

team in Munich, Sept 5, 1972.

What were the motivations and means of Black September with the Munich

terrorist act

Outline Background of events in 1972 prior to the Munich

Olympics terrorist act Overview of the Black September group How the Black September group organised the 1972

Munich terrorist act Why the Munich Olympics were favourable for a

terrorist act Tuesday Sept.5th 1972 Outcomes for Black September & PLO Summary

Events prior to the1972 Munich Olympic attacks

Palestinian groups failure to execute attacks against Israel in West bank or Gaza

Success of attacks outside of the middle east ie. Europe

Palestinian attacks during 1972 before the Munich Olympics

This influenced Palestinian operations to become bolder, more sophisticated and theatrical (Klein pg.47 2006)

Events prior to the1972 Munich Olympic attacks Continued.

Sabena Hijacking, May 8th 1972 Failure by Black September

“The failure of the Sabera Hijacking increased the resolve of Black September’s leadership. They were determined to pull off an unprecedented, earth- shaking attack.. they chose the Munich Olympics”

(Klein pg 23, 2006)

Black September

Has no offices, addresses, official leaders or spokespersons

Abu-Iyad Founded the years prior to 1972 in response

to King Hussein’s expelling and killing of many Palestinians from Jordan

First successful attack by group on Israelis

Why the Munich Olympics?

Abu-Iyad in his book Stateless wrote the

Munich operation had three goals

1. “to present the existence of the Palestinian people to the whole world, whether they like it or not”

2. “to secure the release of over 200 Palestinian fighters locked in Israel jails”

3. “to use the unprecedented number of media outlets in one city to display the Palestinian struggle for better or worse”

Why the Munich Olympics? Continued.

International setting as stated by Abu-Iyad “the west German government was

woefully unprepared to protect the security of the Olympics held in Munich”

Europe’s lenience on terrorists at this time

Black September’s organisation of Munich 1972

Training on the Mediteranean shore, a few miles south of Beirut

Six of the fifty trained chosen for Munich

Further training in Libya, month prior to Munich

Remaining two terrorists chosen for operation were the appointed commander and his second in command

Black September Palestinian terrorist During hostage negotiations, Sept.5th1972

Tuesday Sept.5th 1972

Palestinian terrorists early morning enter Olympic grounds

Faced no opposition by security Killed 2 Israelis in initial hours Negotiations occurred throughout the day for

the release of over 200 Palestinian fighters from Israeli jails

Outcomes for Black September & PLO

“we have made one of the best achievements of Palestinian commando action… It was like painting the name of Palestine on a mountain that can be seen from the four corners of the earth” (excerpt from a Black September statement, one week after Munich)

Outcomes for Black September & PLO Continued.

“Arafat (PLO Leader) received the legitimization he had long been seeking – an invitation to speak at the U.N. General Assembly, where he was greeted like a hero and statesman, not as a cold blooded murderer with the blood of American diplomats, Israeli olympians and Jewish children on his hands” (pg.49 Dershawitz)

Outcomes for Black September & PLO Continued

The Black September group in the following years had the confidence to become bolder in their terrorist activities

Summary

Motivations to commit Munich Massacre Preparations made for the terrorist act Impact this had politically for the Black

September & therefore PLO Reasons why this terrorist act was so

successful

“It is doubtful whether the PLO could have achieved this success had it not resorted to international terrorism” (pg.49 Dershawitz)

References

Klein, A (2006). Striking Back. Australia: Random House Publishing.

Dershowitz, A (2002). Why Terrorism Works. Australia: Scribe Publications

Bibliography

Davies, B, 2003. TERRORISM, Inside a world phenomenon. 1st ed. Great Britain: Virgin Books Ltd.

Whittaker, D (2007). Second Edition. Terrorism understanding the global threat. Great Britain. Pearson Education