THE EXTREME right wing government Amin Gemayel teetering on the edge of collapse after days of streetfighting. soldiers in the Lebanon army deserting, refusing to fight their Muslim brothers and sisters. Gemayel's cabinet has resigned, and he is going to have the greatest difficulty in forming a new one.
This crisis massive defeat for United States and Israel. Gemayel is only President courtesy of the Israelis they put his assassinated brother Bashir into power after the 1982 invasion.
The United States has done its utmost to impose the authority of the right wing Maronite Christians. But their plans have been thwarted by the revolt of the Shi'ite and Druze militias.
The impoverished Shiite people of southern Lebanon have suffered harshly under Israeli occupation, sanctioned by the soof called Troop is Agreement' made with Gemayel in 1983.
West Beirut have been the Muslim victims of a harsh clamp down after their part of the city was occupied by the Israelis in 1982. the have been the victims of infamous massacres and conalready tinual Phalangist work hand-in-glove with the Lebanese Army.
The force of the US, Britain, in France and Italy was sent to Lebanon precisely to bolster the the Gemayel and ensure its authority in Greater Beirut.
Shi'ite Militias Beirut, homes of against battle tanks and artillery, have broken the will of the army and left the European and US troops isolated and powerless.
With the tegrating the left wing and Arab nationalist have liberated. West Beirut, devastating Gemayel and his imperialist backers.
Withdrawal the Israelis The people of Muslim end The Palestinians population.
harassment by the militias, who "peace-keeping The government But in South protecting the their people against army disin- the British militias defeat for All the US firepower, the huge guns of the New Jersey and the murderous air raids, have been in the unable to establish Gemayel's authority.
pro-Western Maronite elite in Lebanon are a minority. They cannot hope to impose their will against the majority of the The danger now is of a desperate US or Israeli attack to attempt to save Gemayel. If that happens there can only be a new and bigger bloodbath.
British
must demand that the war-weary people of Lebanon be left in peace to solve their own problems.
Last Sunday 40,000 people marched in Jerusalem to demand the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops. In the United States, opinion polls show a 2-1 majority US troops in The time has come for labour movement to play its full part, by demanding loud and clear the withdrawal of British troops, who only serve the purpose of giving credibility to Reagan and Gemayel.
Socialist Action 10 February 1984