In its public statements, the Syrian government has long supported the Palestinian cause. In reality, the Assads sought to stymie the PLO, whose famous leader, Yasser Arafat, never trusted Damascus.

Writing on the 20th anniversary of the PLO leader's death, former PNA foreign minister Nasser Al-Kidwa reflects on his uncle's life and legacy

Al Majalla obtains exclusive minutes detailing PLO official Faruq al-Qaddumi's account of Arafat's final days and why he believes the Palestinian leader was assassinated

As students in Cairo in the 1960s, al-Qaddumi and Yasser Arafat founded the Palestinian Fatah movement and worked with Nasser. To his dying day, he refused to go back home under an Israeli permit

How the curtain finally came down on PLO presence in Lebanon

The PLO chairman now knows that he must leave Lebanon as his fighters are surrounded by the Israelis. The Syrian president is no friend, but agrees to take them in.

With an eye on the Lebanese presidency, the Phalange commander and sworn enemy of Syria sends secret messages of 'reassurance' to al-Assad. Meanwhile, Damascus refuses to host PLO fighters.

US envoy Phillip Habib proposes a plan to facilitate the PLO's exit from Beirut. Meanwhile, the Phalange party vows to end Lebanon's 'three occupations'.

It is June 1982, and Beirut is surrounded by the Israelis. In the city, there are Syrian soldiers and Palestinian fighters from Yasser Arafat's PLO. The Israelis want them both out. Cue the diplomacy.

Al Majalla begins its five-part series revealing never-before-shared details of Israel's 1982 siege of Beirut and exchanges between Hafez al-Assad and Yasser Arafat