A recent report published by the Congressional Research Service1 included a list of seventeen “foreign terrorist organizations” operating out of the Middle East as of October 1999. Arranged in order of most active to least, a very clear pattern becomes discernible: all of the most dangerous groups have an Islamist orientation, as opposed to the nationalist and leftist outlooks of yesterday’s greatest worries.
| Group | Description | Terrorist Activity Level |
| Al-Qa’ida (Ben Ladin Organiztation) | Multinational, Afghanistan-based Islamist | Very High |
| Armed Islamic Group (GIA) | Algerian, Islamist | High |
| Hamas Palestinian | Islamist | High |
| Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM) | Pakistani, Islamist, Kashmir separatist | High |
| Islamic Group | Egyptian, Islamist | High |
| Al-Jihad | Egyptian, Islamist | High |
| Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) | Palestinian, Islamist | High |
| Hizballah | Lebanese, Shiite Islamist | Moderate |
| People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) | Iranian, leftwing anti-regime | Moderate |
| Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) | Palestinian, nationalist | Moderate |
| Kach | Jewish, anti-peace process | Low |
| Kahane Chai | Jewish, anti-peace process | Low |
| Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) | Kurdish, anti Turkey | Low |
| Palestine Liberation Front | Palestinian, nationalist | Low |
| Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) | Palestinian, Marxist | Low |
| Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front | Turkish, leftwing anti-government | Low |
| Abu Nidal Organization | Palestinian, nationalist | Very Low |
1 “Terrorism: Near Eastern Groups and State Sponsors, 2000,” Aug. 17, 2000
