In 1964 , Nasser and other Arab League in Cairo Summit 1964 initiated the creation of the PLO to represent the Palestinian people . Despite establishing ties with the new organization , the Soviet government also feared the PLO would weaken their influence in the Arab region and reacted with skepticism towards the group 's leadership . Following the Six-Day War , however , Soviet influence would further increase in the Arab region and PLO would follow suit . In March 1968 , Yasser Arafat and his Fatah organization gained international attention and popularity in the Arab region when it engaged in a full-scale battle with an Israeli force at the city of Karameh in Jordan , in which 150 Palestinians and 29 Israelis were killed . Two months later , Fatah would join the PLO and Arafat was appointed as the organization 's Chairman . Under Arafat 's leadership , favoritism towards the USSR was firmly established within the ranks of the PLO and the organization would frequently buy Eastern Bloc military equipment to carry out sporadic terrorist attacks against Israel
Arab League in Cairo Summit 1964
1964 Arab League summit (Cairo)
Foreign relations of the Soviet Union