An Ominous First

For the first time in history, a Communist was elected to sit in an Arab parliament. In Syria's national election, normally conservative Damascus gave only one other winner more votes than Khaled Bakdash, the Middle East's No. 1 Red. Vigorous, persuasive Bakdash, who made a pilgrimage to Moscow only last year, made Middle East history with a direct and relentless campaign built largely on anti-Americanism. Along with Bakdash, the same sort of sentiments won seats for twelve Socialists.

The bulk of the 142 Deputies elected were standard Arab politicians-old-line, conservative and opportunist, many of them also hostile to the West, and to the U.S. in particular for its past support of Israel. Against them, Bakdash and the Socialists could not hope to win much in Parliament, but that they had done so well was a shock and a danger sign to the West. "The Syrian results," understated one U.S. diplomat, "were definitely detrimental to our interests." Among those who were delighted were the long-unsettled Arab refugees from Palestine. "They're not in love with Communism," explained one Arab, "but they're at war with the West."