Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Three years of war and occupation has led Lebanon into its second civil war in ten years as Israeli forces 'withdraw" south.
Shi'ite, Sunni, reassert their control and Christians have fled from the Sidon area to Israeli controlled areas for safety. It is an optimistic time for the oppressed of Lebanon — in three years the Israelis were unable to defeat their heroic resistance.
These recent however, should be viewed wl d ce coo l caution. First on the quesLUlI of Israeli WILIIdrawal'. must be repeated that Israel is not troops from Lebanon totally.
will concoue lo occupy a 55 mile 'security AVile alone the border. patrolled by Israeli pro-Israeli militias. They will reserve the right to terrorise the local population, strike at resistance and behave in their usual as ohey have resne in is, have done in the West Konk Gaza Golan since 1967 Israel's *Iron Fist' policy has not been smashed. On the contrary it is entering a more subtle, less visible phase. Financially, because of growing casualties, it can no longer sustain heavy military involvement in Lebanon as the economic crisis deepens and Israeli public opinion against the grows.
Second, Israel's invasion invaded primarily destroy PLO which it did not do But its dispersal throughout the Arab has Trade Union Friends of Palestine Saturday 18 May 'British Labour and the Palestinians, Which Way Forward?
Holborn Central Library Hall, Theobalds Road, London WC1 (nearest tube Chancery Lane or Holborn).
Trade Union Friends of Palestine can be contacted at PO Box 196 London WCIX OAT.
US Hands off Nicaragua! Stop the Trade Embargo!
Daytime Picket followed by Demonstration Polytechnic of Central NEXT MONTH will be the third anniversary of the Palestinian and Druze forces neutralised the PLO politically and militarily in leaving Lne Palestinians in a very weak position.
The Israeli's • second establish all nas lu government allied subservient to Israel.
posed real threat in terms of revolutonary potential.
Broadly speaking, two both failed:
Phalange leader Bashir Gemayel's right wing pro-israell Amin Gemayel's acceptable face of Lębanese capitalism, uniting the Christian Muslim bourgeoisies TOI a lime looking to the Arab world for support, rather than Israel.
This was proven bankrunt. T'here can be no solution so long as Israel LevanOl the confessional governinci bysłcı tlales divisions Lebanese society - despite reforms to allow more representation for the Shi'ite and Druze communities.
What certain sections of the Israeli government advocated and what seems to be at present a possible outcome, is the cantonisaLOm Oceanolo cau statelets. While Canu wc Camel onpose, for example, a comIluill y the Shi'ite Muslims, who are seeking autonomy defend themselves against fascist attacks, we call there can be no security so long Maronite allies militarily SLUCC economically politically in a capitalist framework.
The. division of Lebanon into cantons will Onty benefit strengthen its policing role in the region. Syria's at. titude on this is pragmatic whatever the solution, it must be one that will not threaten the Syrian regime. The population of Lebanon is once again being moved around to suit tne necas of israet As the Palestinians and Shi'ltes have oute ront reasserted their control around the coastal regioi of Siclon, , 20,000 Christian are sald to have fled to the Israeli controlled Jezzine area. Ihis area.
the Christians retain control, will give Israel a corridor to the coast to strike at Palestinian Shi'ite settlements.
Among the progressive forces opposed to Israei, unity needs to be reached. ¡t is a tragedv that Palesti nian Shi'ite militias were fighting each other.
Campaign The Shiites, the most oppressed Lebanese allies or ahe Palesniara. the natural allies replaced them as the mose indeed have potentially Leyoanoo. British Media force concentration on •KhoWcirl suicide hombers obscures the fact that the Shi'ite Amal organisations - there is not one Amal but several - range from socialist/communist Islamic fundamentalist The question to be decided is which force will become the dominant one to lead the Shi'ites in the future. Wo matel in here non there can be til the Zionist until Israeli state (as opposed to its people) is smashed, the fascists are defeated and a socialist revolution takes place. At the present time, there is no revolutionary leadersn uniting the communities to erd tas.
Today our task
solidarity is to expose the Israeli withdrawal for demand labour movement support total, 1C LONI Israeli withdrawal the Lebanon THE Capenhurst Woin serious danger of being jailed.
Their crime? To pro test at the use by British Nuclear Fue Ltd of illegally plun.
dered Namibian uranium.
British-owned Ri Tinto Zinc (RTZ) is breaking United Nation Decree No. 1 by minin dtr lill li South African occupied Namibia. The uranium is used by BNFL for domestic military purposes.
Demonstrate
solidarity with these women who have refused to pay their fines and in stead sent the money to SWAPO!
• Picket Risley Remand Centre, Wednesday May at 10.30am. . Further details CANUC 01-267 1941.
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Picket the US Embassy Friday May 31
Picket Risley!