withdrawal. In the United States three former directors of the CIA called for the withdrawal of the US marines on the grounds that they are sitting ducks and have 'failed to change the balance of power in Lebanon. The touching concern CIA men is not of course for the Lebanese people, But much of the pressure in the US, as well as France, Italy and Britrom another source the realisation that the so-called peace keepers are there not to keep any sort of peace, but merely to bolster the cactionary Maronite Christian government of Amin In recent weeks the international peace keepers have shown exactly which they on.
Christmas Day the French contingent occupying OI the Beirut suburbs near Chatila and Sabra refugee camps HOVe CUordinated with the Lebanese army. The army immediately moved in 30 battle tanks and proceded attack the Sonner! suburbs of the city which are a stronghold of the Shi'ite militia Amal.
Over the past month the Gemayel government nas been coming unaci licreasing pressure from the Israelis to clean up Beirut' - that is to defeat all those which are opposed the Israeli-imposed Gemayel government. The international peace keeping force, and in particular the French and American troops, have openly colInland 6 months E8: 12 months £15 Overseas (12 months only)
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of these former laborated with Gemayel in the project of inflicting a nilitary defeat on his op onents. Nothing could be further from 'peace keep ing' than connivance in the indiscriminate USe modern battle tanks against the poor suburbs of southern Beirut.
While urging Gemayel to take a lougner against his opponents, the Israelis have been consolidating their grip southern The sael occupalul has been accompanied by massive harassment of the civilian population, which in the south is overwhelmingly Shi'ite Muslim.
Over the new year both Shi'ite and Sunni Muslim communities united in a series sit-ins other acts of civil disobediance against the occupiers.
While the struggle against the Gemayel the Israelis continued, Yasser Arafat his loyalist Fateh PLO fighters finally left Tripoli, to be scatered around the A aD The driving out of Arafat Send to: Socialist Action Subs, 328 Upper St. London N1 2XP. represents the final accomplishment by the vales Wildl was started by the Israeli invathe drive son last ycal to destroy the PLO as an effective fighting force independent of any Arab state.
While the rump PLO in Lebanon and Syria is effectively controlled by the Syrian government, made a crucial mistake in turning towarus LIC Murabak regime in Egypt. There is no way forward for the Palestinian people in alliance with the right wing Murabak regime, nor for that matter in alliance with Hussein of Jordan who is making his own bid to be the 'ally of the PLO The Christmas Year events in the Middle East have set the seal on two years of continuous defeats for the Palestinian people and the Arab nationalist forces in the region. There is no way Torward TOE we shruggie for the liberation of the peopic, the struggle to defeat the Maronite caculullar regime in without creating a movement independent of every reactionary Arab state and that includes Syria, Egypt and Jordan.
This struggle will be made immensely easier when the imperialist troops withdrawn from the region. The camfor their withdrawal, and especially the withdrawal OT British troops, must be major campaign labour movement.
Special free book offer!
Take out a years inland subscription and we will send you free one of these books: Thatcher and Friends by John Ross Hard Times by Bob Sutcliffe or Over our Dead Bodies — Women Against the Bomb Introductory offer for new readers: Eight issues for just £2! Lebanese army battle tanks attack Amal militia in Southern Beirut.
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PRESSURE is mounting in all the countries which have 'peace-keeping' troops in Lebanon for their
but merely an expression of the view that the US troops should either 'zap the natives' or get out.
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