of the seige of Beirut.
conflict and heroic of Zionism never sunk so low assembly the Israelis were defeated by votes to two.
The resistance by the ple of Beirut been of epic proportions;
this example will live on Enroucn Ine next generation of Palestinians and among the Arab people as whole, and strengthen their fight Palestinian revolution.
The responsibility for the death and destruction, for the Hilasoalic SPECIAL OFFER Socialist Challenge we are offering a free copy of Nicaragua: The Sandinist Revolution by Henri Weber (normal price f2.95) or Autobiography of Malcolm X Subscription rates:
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Address SPECIAL OFFER Please send me For multi-reader institutions double the above rates Send to Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London N1 IT IS NOW eleven weeks since the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and nine weeks since the start to leave West Beirut.
These weeks of bloody resistance have demonstrated beyond all doubt the character and the Zionist state - expansionist, brutal and ruthless. Israel's support has in the general thousands of Lebanese, lies above all the Unted Gares Despite Reagan's much publicised phone call to Manachem Be bombin him o stest bombing Beirut reality the United States has done not single thing to put pressure on Israel.
The ending of the devastating Israeli air attacks has always been tied comments each 12 month inland subscription to London N1. with the PLO's agreement Demands from many countries that the Israelis not be supplied with further weapons have been rejected by the United States.
Even Reagan's phone call to Begin came in the wake of a call from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who made a thinly-veiled threat to cut off US oil supplies.
The United States' attitude is of course no surprise. Israel imperialism's major ally in the Middle East. Whatever the US need to ally with some of the more reactionary Arab states the United States is never going to give up its alliance with Israel. Devastation everywhere in Beirut Ronald rings up Manachem The major problem for the Palestinians has • beel the fact that they have been fighting alone.
Syrian regime has backed off from any serious confrontation the Israelis. All the other Arab regimes have made the right noises, but not lifted support.
has been pathetic - they have hardly bothered even pay lip-service to the need to defend the Palestinians.
Despite their isolation the Palestinians have fought heroically. They high casuadis oris the high casualties the skies by the Israeli airforce. But despite the and determiner resistance of the Palestinlan igniers, me suruggie is in danger of resulting in bitter ong-term defeat for the Palestinian revolution.
There should be no doubt that the evacuation of West Beirut dispersal of the PLO fighters throughout the Middle East, and the im position of a 'peace keeping force' of troops from imperialist countries would mean defeat not on ly for the Palestinians but also for the Lebanese left.
Apart trom the PLO as military force, such a solution will result in the reconstruction ebanest dominated by the Phalangist Christian militias.
great deal nonsense has been • talked tne 'gains can be made by the PalestiLUTAS themselves into a 'sensible a military-political forc But the reality is that th political influence o the ? LO has rested on its abil deploy serious military force and to harrass the Israelis.
militias dispersed throughout the Middle East the PLO groups will become mor and more dependent on in which they take refuge Of course the tempta tion to end the suffering and casualties people of Beirut is very strong. But the PLO can nect prepare the ground for continuing the struggle staying fighting to the bitter end The of all defeats is that it is im measurably deas with a fight. For the hetter PLO by razing Wes Beiru to the ground would be to suffer a majo political defeat. It would cost them heavily both in lives and political prestige There is no guarantee that such a venture would be successil Do not be fooled if the PLO fighters leave Beirut neroes waving their Kalashnikovs they will be going as the defeated Their real victory would be stay and fight to •eng
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• Bekaa Varley as well as in Beirua, Israelis, despite the total control of