The Defensive' Invasion

Israel Invades the Lebanon

Israel has invaded the Lebanon. In response to a single misdirected al/Fatah operation, the Zionists have violated the territorial integrity of the Lebanese people.

Israel justifies its invasion of Southern Lebanon on the grounds that it is defending its own borders. It claims to be wiping out "guerrilla strongholds" and establishing a 10 kilometre-deep security zone from the Mediterranean to the foothills of Mount Herman.

But is Israel defending its borders (to which it has no legitimate right) or is it once again extending them by the use of force, at the cost of the Palestinian people?

Prime Minister Begin says Israel has acted in self-defence and has no territorial claims on Southern Lebanon. But this is not the first time Israel has attacked Southern Lebanon (under the guise of attacking Palestinian "guerrillas").

A few hours after just such an attack in April 1974, Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dyan, said, "The operation was not revenge, it was more political in nature than military. If Lebanon remains lenient with the terrorists, a large part of it will ultimately be destroyed and deserted".

At the same time the Minister of Information, Aharon Yariv, said, "the occupation of Southern Lebanon would be, from a purely military aspect, a step which would make our war against the terrorists much easier".

Israel claims to be attacking military targets only, but news reports have shown dying civilians crowding Lebanese hospitals. The attacks were not limited to the so-called "security zone" and 40 civilians died in bombing raids on the crowded Ouzai'i district of Beirut. Refugee camps in the south have been attacked. A 17 year old Palestinian girl injured in a raid on the Sabra camp said. "The Jews fell on our heads from the sky and spurted arrows of red-hot fire right into our homes".

Israeli forces have said they will stay in Southern Lebanon until they "clear out the Palestinian infestation once and for all". Does this mean until all Palestinians living in the area are killed or driven out to set up camps still further away from their homeland?

Last Saturday, al/Fatah, the largest Palestinian resistance group in the umbrella organisation, the PLO, staged what was intended to be a military operation near Tel Aviv. Tragically this operation went wrong. 34 civilians were killed in the shooting which ensued when an Israeli Police anti-terrorist squad attacked the bus in which Palestinians were holding hostages. In the resultant battle the bus exploded.

Such an operation cannot be condoned. Few supporters of the Palestinian cause would do so, but it can be understood. For years the Palestinians have been struggling for self-determination. Israel, recipient of the largest amount of US aid in the world, has been arming itself to the hilt, and encroaching on larger and larger areas of Arab land. Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes and their land has been confiscated. Many live in the squalor of refugee camps, surviving on the meagre rations supplied by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Recently the Egyptian President sold out the Palestinians by visiting Jerusalem — tantamount to recognition of the Zionist state. It is this atmosphere of political frustration that breeds violence and leads to operations like that of last Saturday.

The PLO is recognised by the U.N. as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Israel's threat to "cut off the evil arm" of the PLO is a direct threat to it and a violation of the U.N. charter. The Arab League has appealed to the UK to end the Israeli action.

Not only is this invasion a serious threat to the PLO, but it is also a violation of the rights of the Lebanese people. In retaliation for an error, Israel has attacked another country and justified it as "defence" of its "borders". This must be condemned.

International pressure must force Israel to withdraw. The Palestinians must be supported in their struggle for their right to self-determination.

Sarah Brown