did the Israelis choose this moment to anackr vynat wore weir strategic objectives?
The first aim is to follow up the Camp David solution, DHOKCE down, and either renew it or rake new same vein. The essence ot LEC Camp David agree. ment was mutual recognition. between Egypt and Israel, trying to deal with the Palestinian question by giving them some self-rule 'autonomy' and trying to ina an alternanve leadership to the PLO -and all this to be done of course without taking into the wishes and demands of the PalestiThe only way that Israel can secure its exEXODUS: 1948 and 1967 MEDITERRANCAN StA The Palestinian exodus SCATA ISRAEL istence is by constantly establishing around 'security belt' which consists of stretches or and which are 'de-militarised' and where the PLO cannot carry out any military operations They have already done this in Sinai and the West Bank and now they want to do it with South Lebanon. They tried to do this first 1978 establishing Haddad's 'Free Lebanon' and also by making sure that United Nations forces policed that area.
But the 1978 solution didn't work occause PLO had weapons which enabled them to reach into Israel. The Israeli's call the operation Security for Galilee' - Ine area wnere all the settlements are.
political developments in the Arab world were favourable at this moment for the Israeli Egypt has Invasion already been 'neutralised' the bi-lateral ment. Syria has a lot of internal problems and there is a lot of anti-Syrian feeling inside Lebanon.
Jordan as we know is an impertanst agent. Also Socialist Challenge 24 June 1982 page 6 the situation wasn't very good Tor merry asce Lebanon. In the past few years uncle Have been growing anti-PLO senLIlICILLS which have been exploited by Israel and have been exacerbated by the Phalangists.
The growth of seclarianısın witnin Lebanon in the last few years has been exploited This is why you've seen organisanons like Amal for instance taking a more anti-PLO stance Amal is the militia of the Shi-ite fundamentalists. Suni and Shite Mu All these Muslim groups - support the idea of a strong Lebanese state ana a strong Lebanese almy as well.
side. is of course in favour of this because new lebanese armi LEBANON SYRIAN ARA • KEPUBLIC VII first exodus second exodus could be in control of the south, which corresponds to the wishes of these groups wine are supported by a majority of the population.
Isn't the Israeli attack also a response to the rising unrest against their rule of the ocparticular the West Bank? in other words didn't they hope to inthat a mora all Palestinians and by defeating the Palestimar muldor I don't think that it's just a response to what has been happening LOe West Bank it's more complex that. but obvious s the failure of Israel to alternative CIcalc Palestinian leadership to of the PLO tuat which would collaborate and the failure of the collaborationist Village Leagues was one factor What is your estimate of the defeat the Palestinian militias and