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Munich Olympics Massacre———249

been responsible for planning the Munich operation. rejected by several German courts, most recently in
Daoud (whose real name is Mohammed Daoud 1999.
Machmoud Auda) had earlier admitted that Black The Munich Olympics marked the end of naivete
September was a cover for Al Fatah, Yasir Arafat’s in planning security for large, international proceed-
faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization ings. Never again would police find themselves so
(PLO). Daoud wrote in his autobiography that he had unequipped or have such as lax attitude about security
briefed Arafat before the attack, and Arafat had sent precautions for major events. Watching the events on
him off on the mission with the words, “Allah protect TV also brought terrorism that much closer to home
you.” Daoud wrote that he had no regrets over the for many ordinary people, and created, for the first
deaths, but did regret that instead of rousing sympathy time, an awareness of the price paid for poor planning
for the PLO cause, they caused only revulsion. and inadequate protection.
Besides Daoud, at least one other PLO terrorist
linked to the Munich attack was given a position in See also AL FATAH; YASIR ARAFAT; PALESTINE LIBERATION
the Palestinian Authority (PA)—Amin al-Hindi, who ORGANIZATION
headed Arafat’s General Intelligence Service. Israel
objected in 1995 when Arafat tried to appoint another Further Reading
Munich suspect, Mustafa Liftawi (Abu Firas), as PA
Daoud, Abu. Palestine: From Jerusalem to Munich. Paris:
police chief in Ramallah.
Anne Carriere Editions, 1999.
The families of the victims were initially paid $1
Reeve, Simon. One Day in September: The Full Story of the
million in compensation by the German government,
1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and the Israeli
but they later sued, saying that the German police had
Revenge Operation, Wrath of God. New York: Arcade,
bungled the rescue attempt by stationing only five 2000.
poorly equipped snipers at the airfield. The German Serge, Groussard. The Blood of Israel: The Massacre of the
government has always denied responsibility for the Israeli Athletes, the Olympics, 1972. New York: William
deaths, arguing that they had done everything they Morrow, 1975.
could, and the lawsuit brought by the families was