to more traditional forms of struggle, for example through religion, and this will be a serious set-back to the future socialist revolution in the area.
Out of all this, the only optimistic signs are coming from some sections of Israeli society who are joining the move call thousands.
I ne largest demo in the world against the Israeli invasion came from inside Israel when 100,000 marched in Tel Aviv on 3 July.
Although the majority of people supporting this movement are still Zionists ther Zionist state, they no longer accept the government's argument that they had no choice but to launch a full scale war agaulisl the i ney beneve Inere was a pontical op • that of bringing the Palestinians into the negotiations over the future of the Occupied and leading on from what was started at Camp David, the possibility of a mini-Palestinian state.
But this is precisely what Begin's government didn't want. sion has accelerated the polarisation between the right and Zionists which has been rumbling under the surface since the last invasion of Lebanon in 1978.
The PLO pushed on by the leaders of the Lebanese National Movement dubious their try, honourable Lebanese people support the shed West Palestinians. t'alestinlans to slay.
the Territories evacuate, bogged down The inva- and more against Israel.
left-wing prospect of areas of Lebanon for years. are entering into the negotiations for their withdrawal trom the Lebanon. It would appear that leaders such as Arafat are trying to arrange a deal with the US where they will be given political and dinlomatic concessions in return Ior leading their forces out of the counlike surrender to retain credibility with their guerrilla forces.
murdering al c civilians deliberately to put pressure on the PLO to go — and to turn the away Palestinians. But, this is now having the opposite effect, with the majority of the civilians caught up in the blood-.
Beirut the The longer the PLO forces stay in and do not the longer Israel will endless discriminate brutal attacks while the for opposition to the war at home grows and international opinion turns more The alternative is for the PLO to agree to leave and be replaced with an imperialist occupying army and the Israel occupying vast Then the plans Sharon has in store for the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories will probably become a reality. If they win in Lebanon their attention will turn to these areas for a Illassive campaign to expertne llajonty of Palestinians and annex the area as they did with the Golan Heights.
The PLO fighters should abandon Beirut. The opinion of the Lebanese masses in the capital is firmly on their side. To accept any imperialist plan for dispersing resistance around the Middle East would be to put back the struggle against Zionism for decades. It may well be that if they refused to leave Beirut the PLO fighters would have to make a last ditch stand against a massive Israeli attack. Military politically such an attack would be immensely costly for Israel. The guerrillas will certainly give a good account of themselves in hand-to-hand fighting. If they leave Beirut they are finished as a military force anyway. The task now is to prepare the basis military and political resistance, which cannot be done by tamely going off to the four corners of the Middle East.
solidarity more than ever needed to ensure that the maximum amount of pressure is Israel, the United States exerica on and the Western powers to halt the bloody atrocities of Begin Sharon. Solidarity in Britain