Phoenicians

Chapter 31

August 1st, 1976 – Organization of African Unity led by Muammar el Kadhafi is

still pushing the UN to oust Israel from the body – endorsers include Yasser Arafat,
their final resolution asks Organization of American States to apply pressure to
Israel on latest round of talks with deal between Israel and Egypt.
Aug 4th – Israeli/Lebanese border – Israeli border patrol kills one PLO member
and one Israeli soldier killed, 2 PLO members are taken prisoner.
Aug 5th – Israel attack Palestinian camps near Tyre, combined attack air, land
and sea launched, 18 killed and 44 wounded. An Israeli artillery round hits
Lebanese Army base (Tyre), four officers killed (outside of Officers Club), one
wounded – PLO sources say rockets were fired by the Israeli commando squad
named “Clouds of Hell”.
Aug 9th – Reports issued say Israel – Egypt agreement close on the horizon, two
Israeli officials head to USA to work on details – Ambassador “Simcha Dinitz” to
meet with Kissinger, and USA Ambassador “Herman Eilts” to hand carry proposal
from Israel to Egyptians.
Aug 12th – Kissinger meets with Simcha Dinitz after a day of talks with Israeli
legal specialists and Undersecretary of State “Joseph Sisco”. Proposal is alive and
well! Israel calls special Parliament session on Monday (yesterday) to debate terms
of new Sinai peace agreement. Jerusalem newspapers say talks at final technical
level, Egypt expects agreement to be endorsed in next 3-weeks.
Aug 13th – New agreement will leave Israeli forces in the Mitla and Giddi passed
to later have them replaced with UN forces. UN Zone to increase from
Mediterranean to Gulf of Suez, Egypt will “regain” control of the “Abu Rudeis” oil
fields, and electronic surveillance posts to be manned, “possibly” with Americans.
Egypt will agree to a 3-year deal, and to renew UN mandate at least once a year, to
drop boycott against American firms dealing with Israel, and tone down their anti
Israel-American propaganda. Only parts of agreement made public.
Israel to pull back to line 95-miles west of the pre-1967 borders – Egypt to move
up to line 25-30 miles from Suez Canal. UN Force between the two as buffer. Israel
will also operate air-base at “Revadim” and keep foothold on eastern approaches to
key mountain passes. Israel ask the United States to pay them $350 million for oils
fields, they also want United States to pay $150 million for new defense line, and
have added on to this bill $1.8 billion in military aid and $700 million for economic
aid.
1. $ 350,000,000
2. $ 150,000,000
3. $1,800,000,000
4. $ 700,000,000
Total bill to United States for peace between Israeli and Egypt (money to Israel)
is $3 billion --- where were Jews when the American Indian’s signed their peace
treaties? All we got was barren land with no buffalo.
Aug 14th – USA Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will recommend to Congress to
send latest USA technology and civilian workforce to Israel to update and man
listening posts, and work with them on preventing surprise attacks.
Aug 16th – Bomb explodes in Tel Aviv synagogue, 3-wounded. Palestinian
guerrillas claim responsibility, two members Palestinian guerrillas killed mixing it up
with Israeli patrol boats approaching refugee camp near Tyre.
Aug 17th – Volkswagen and 100 other companies may again do business with
Arab League nations – to do this they must be able to prove they do “no” business
with Jews.
Aug 18th – Opposition leader Menachem Begin calls for Premier Yitzhak Rabin to
resign – protestors march against Kissinger’s visit. Says Begin is bending too much
under United States pressure and giving up too much.
Kissinger’s proposal of sending American’s to upgrade and monitor listening
posts running into problems –
King Hussein meets with President Hafez Assad in Syria, to discuss Peace talks
and solution to the Palestinian question.
Aug 19th – Israeli cargo will only pass through Suez Canal on non-Israeli ships,
and U.S. guarantees supply of oil and “funds” to buy Israeli oil from Iran if they give
up the “Abu Rudeis” oil fields – and Iran cannot supply, the United States will
supply. Also reported that U.S. will supply troops for “buffer zone” if UN mandate
not renewed – it is said that United States Congress will approve all.
Israel asks total aid package be $3.2 billion, and also states they will consider a
withdrawal from “Golan Heights” if “Syria” extends the mandate for UN peace-
keeping force.
 Aug 20th – Three PLO members killed crossing Israeli border from Lebanon, and
Israelis attack suspected PLO base in North East Lebanon – international opinion is
the PLO really wants to prevent agreement – as there is no part of the agreement
that deals with the Palestinian settlement.
Czechoslovakian airliner crashes near Damascus – 126 of 128 die.
Aug 21st – Kissinger arrives in Tel Aviv – he states United States has promised $
billions in aid if agreement endorsed, and he states that the United States will not
let Israel jeopardize other U.S. interests in the Middle East – large protests,
demonstrators block roadways and have to be physically removed by Israeli
security force.
Egypt also wants the agreement to state that Israel will negotiate with Syria on
Golan Heights.
Aug 22nd – Kissinger to fly to Egypt after meeting with PM Rabin for 5-hours to
meet with President Sadat.
Syria and Jordan criticize the “piece-meal” deals made with Israel as moves to
divide the Middle East – they are reported as setting up a ‘joint command” to
coordinate “military” and “political” actions. Jointly they forward strong message to
President Sadat “not” to make a separate peace with Israel and maintain the final
agreement with Israel must include “all” Arab countries.
Aug 23rd – Report from Beirut politicians say Jordan and Syria closer as result of
Israeli and Egyptian negotiations, and Jordan may now talk with Palestinians – keep
in mind that King Hussein chased many from his country. Local Palestinians are
denouncing United States and their efforts for a “partial” settlement, and agree
loudly that a Sinai agreement will leave “many” Arabs dissatisfied.
Aug 25th – Kissinger goes to Egypt – it is noted that Israel is reacting to pressure,
whereas PM Rabin requests that part of the “private” agreements be made public,
Sadat says all will be public – Rabin’s advisers say “he” only meant Israeli
agreement. In Tel Aviv it is felt the negotiations will not fail again.
United States Senator “Mike Mansfield” does not like the idea of Americans in
Sinai and believes Congress will “not” approve.
Aug 26th – Kissinger carries draft of “partially” completed to Egypt – says he has
made remarkable progress, important part being that both sides will “renounce”
use of force for 3-years.
 El Afram newspaper reports that “initialing” of the agreement will be done my
military representatives in Israel and Egypt, and that the final agreement will be
endorsed in September at Geneva.
Four early warning stations to be set up in Sinai
1. (one) Manned by Americans and Israelis
2. (one) Manned by Americans and Egyptians
3. (two) Manned by Americans
Aug 27th – Egyptian cabinet approves “draft” of Sinai peace agreement.
Israel Chief of Staff (Mordechai Gur), says no new men will be needed to keep
new defense line in Sinai. Mobil defense will be used! It is reported that the
amount the United States agreed to pay Israel for Egyptian oil fields ($350 million)
that Israel “may” make a profit.
Syria now requests land that Israel will not give up, if Syrians option out for
fighting Israel says it will attack 1st.
Aug 28th – Israeli Air Force attack “suspected” PLO base in south Lebanon (Tyre),
two people reported wounded and three killed.
20,000 in Israel protest against agreement, U.S. representative says Israel will
not sign agreement in Geneva “unless” America does permit American technical
people in Sinai.
August 29th - after mortar and rocket exchanges in the streets of Zahleh took
several lives, a partial curfew is imposed on the town.
Israel and Egypt to initial and sign interim peace agreement next week, but
nothing will take effect until signing in Geneva.
Israel still holding to policy that they won’ endorse until U.S. Congress approves
American technicians (350 each, From CIA and NSA) U.S. Sen. “Mike Mansfield”
says, “United States should not act as buffer in the area, we can’t be the policemen
for the world.”
August 31st – For the 2nd night in a row, PLO attacks settlements in North Israel,
whereas two guerrillas killed, two Israel soldiers wounded – reported as 3 rd incident
in 2-nights.

September 1st – Kissinger and Yigal Allon emerge from all-night negotiations,
cabinet approves the agreement – Israeli chief of staff, Mordechai Gur and director
general of foreign affairs “Avraham Kidron” initial the agreement and Kissinger
endorses American side. The same is done in Egypt. Full agreement to be signed in
Geneva next week.
X-Defense Minister “Moshe Dayan” says he will vote “against” the agreement,
and it was wrong that Egypt had Israel withdraw without them having to give up
“option” for more fighting. Stating that passes are important military positions.
PLO Leader Yasser Arafat accuses United States of trying to “divide” Arab world,
Syria accuses USA of same.
Kissinger will be flying home after visiting Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Sept 2nd, exceptionally violent clashes between citizens of Tripoli and citizens of
Zgharta causing many fires, kidnapping and street fight engulfs the city.
Events seem to have “started” because of a car accident involving a driver from
Tripoli and one from the neighboring Maronite town of Zgharta that led to the
shooting of the Muslim driver from Tripoli. Soon after armed men from Tripoli
kidnapped some Christians from Zgharta, in retaliation armed men from “Suleiman
Frangieh’s” Zgharta based militia “Marada”, led by his son Tony set up roadblocks
on the outskirts of Tripoli and did their share of kidnapping. This wave of violence
was “temporarily” contained following the release of detainees.
The next day clashes erupted in Tripoli as Palestinians attacked Lebanese army
positions; at one time the army barracks in the city was under direct attack. 18-
soldiers were injured and three Greek Orthodox priests were also kidnapped, but
later released. Disturbances broke out in the nearby Kura region, where skirmishes
occurred between the Marada militia and supporters of the Syrian Social Nationalist
Party and the Lebanese Communist Party.
Local leaders in Kura contained the outbreak, but in Darayya (near Tripoli)
another violent incident burst into action when a bus carrying kidnapped people
back to Tripoli was fired on by an single armed “man” from the Frangieh family,
killing twelve and injuring seven others. The man had just learned of the killing of
his brother in Tripoli.
Heavy fighting spread to the outskirts of Tripoli as Palestinians launched an
assault against Zgharta --- permanent demarcation lines separating the Palestinians
attacking from Tripoli and the Marada defending Zgharta were firmly in place.
Attacks and counter-attacks in which the Palestinians took part alongside leftist
Tripoli militiamen continued for several days as did the sectarian killings.
 Palestinian guerillas belonging to the factions of “George Habash” and “Nayef
Hawatmeh” entered the village of “Beit Mellat” in north Lebanon and started killing
civilians and moved on to “Deir Ayache” on Sept 3rd, 1975. Three old monks (60, 78
and 93) the only occupants of the monastery of “Deir Ayache” were “ritually”
murdered, the Christian occupants of the village managed to flee, the village was
destroyed.
Two days later, the small Maronite village in “Akkar, Beit Mellat” was attacked
again by Palestinian gunmen who went on a rampage, destroying property, and
killing several people.
Then the Christian town of “Qbayyat” was held under siege, provoking strong
protest and a rebellion of Lebanese army officers (from the town) in Jounieh who
wanted to deploy and halt the fighting.
Emergency cabinet meetings were held and when Christian ministers insisted on
the Army being deployed to restore order, the Muslim ministers “objected” stating
that they did not want the Army to get involved in action “against” Lebanese
citizens. Finally it was agreed that the Army would setup a buffer zone between
Tripoli and Zgharta. “Kamal Jumblatt” unhappy with this action, called for a
nationwide Muslim protest.
Israeli planes attack PLO bases in South Lebanon, PLO Leader denounces new
agreement and promises strongly of new “raids”.
Kissinger gets nod of agreement on “agreement” from King in Saudi Arabia, he
“may” go to Syria. King although he agrees, restates is position on wanting Israel to
return “all” of the occupied Arab lands.
Sept 3rd – Israeli Air Force attack Palestinian refugee camp in South Lebanon, and
Israeli artillery shell border villages three Palestinians are killed and seven are
wounded.
Palestinians throughout Lebanon protest the Sinai agreement with
demonstrations, held in Tripoli, Sidon and Tyre.
Jordan approves agreement.
Sept 4th – Israel chases after PLO into Lebanon, one killed other wounded.
Signing of agreement done in Geneva, Israeli and Egyptian representatives
“refuse” to recognize each other’s presence – US rep stays away from endorsement
ceremony – the two groups will meet on the 8th to work out details.
 President Sadat accuses USSR of trying to divide Arab world, as the USSR has
boycotted the signing of agreement. During the “negotiations” it is reported that
Sadat has cut ties with USSR in order to receive USA “aid”.
Kissinger meets with USA Congress and informs them the agreement will cost
USA $2.3 billion for Israel and $800 million for Egypt. Senator Robert Byrd says that
Israel is already well armed, but agrees to package as it appears as only alternative.
Kissinger says no more than 75 technicians on duty at one time.
Sept 5th – USSR complains to United Nations that they were not consulted about
putting American’s in the Sinai.
President Ford while visiting Sacramento has gun pointed at him by one of
Charles Manson girls, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, no shots fired. She is taken into
custody.
Israel strengthens borders against possible Arab guerrilla attacks on Jewish New
Year
Sept 6th – PM Rabin predicts USSR will make an attempt to unravel Sinai
agreement, and also says there is no possible way for an agreement with Syria.
Sept 7th – Twenty-Six (“26”) are reported killed in Lebanon due to Muslim-
Christian battles.
Large earthquake in Turkey – 2,000 killed. 6.8 M reported along the Anatolian
fault.
Sept 8th – Fighting continues in Lebanon, where it is reported that over 3,000
Muslims are circling a Christian village outside of Tripoli, and in downtown Tripoli
building have been reported as being blowup, and the police and military won’t
intervene.
Sept 9th – Over 80 have been killed during the past two days of fighting in and
around Tripoli – massive escalation feared.
Sept 10th – Lebanese Army ordered to intervene in Tripoli fighting, over 100 have
been killed and 250 wounded. It is reported in International news that over 2,000
were killed during Muslim-Christian fighting in 1975.
Sept 11th – Lebanese Army intervenes in Tripoli, fighting deceases but Muslims
attack the nearby Christian town, 2 killed.
Civilians have setup roadblocks outside of Tripoli, police and Army do nothing
and there is a protest of the kidnapping of youths by rival faction.
Army is reported as setting up “buffer” zones between Muslims and Christians.
 Israeli Air Force bomb PLO target in South Lebanon – two reported killed and 6
are wounded.
Sept 14th – In Beirut during a Muslim-Christian battle six are killed and 25 are
wounded, despite presence of Army.
During the night, army troops fought with several armed followers of”Faruq
Muqaddam”, the leader of the Tripoli-based “Fatah” backed guerrillas. This
occurred when they tried to run an army checkpoint on their way back from
attacking a Frangieh family beach resort near Tripoli, fourteen guerrillas were killed.
The next day several Christian-owned businesses and private-homes in Tripoli
owned by citizens linked to Zgharta were bombed and looted. The Prime Minister,
Rashid Karami while still opposed to Army intervention instead calls upon the Syria
controlled Palestinian Liberation Army to restore order to the city.
His decision was arrived at during a meeting of cabinet ministers at the Grand
Serail, without informing the President. In addition, he requests three guerrilla
battalions be transferred from the south of Tripoli --- far from restoring order, these
units join up with the assault against Christian Zgharta, and as a response hundreds
of Phalange troops were moved from Beirut to help Marada in the defense of
Zgharta. Offensives against Zgharta would be launched many times over the
following months, it refused to fall.
Shiite leaders, for the most part, such as “Musa al-Sadr” were in strong support
of Army intervention in Tripoli, where he stated it was, “a natural and proper
measure.”
On Sept 15th – General Said (52-years-old) is replaced by General Ghanem to
head the Lebanese army, soon after as a “concession” to the Prime Minister;
Frangieh replaces him with a low-key officer and agreed to restructure the army
command. Some Sunni leaders were not opposed to limited army intervention in
Beirut, but Jumblatt and the PLO were categorically opposed to any kind of army
action.
Fighting is again reported in Beirut
On September 16th, Pierre Gemayel (leader of Christina Phalange Party) issues
an ultimatum that if the army did not immediately go into action, the Phalange
would take matters into their own hands, the next day the Phalange went ahead
with an offensive in central Beirut in an attempt to restore order.
 Christian-Muslim cease-fire reported, ten are killed near Beirut before it went
into affect.
Explosions and rock throwing reported in Tripoli, and the main highway between
Beirut and Tripoli is blocked by armed men, during the past few 2-weeks it is said
over 140 were killed and millions of dollars in damage done.
In USA it is learned that USA to supply Israel with F-16s and Pershing missiles,
important Senators say they knew nothing of this part of the agreement. In
Madrid, Spain Palestinian guerrillas take hostages flew to Algiers, hostages released
– the guerrillas say they wanted to alert the world on their disagreement with the
new Israel / Egypt agreement. Saudi Arabia denounces their action.
In Beirut, amidst all the smoke and rubble criticism remains high against the
endorsement of the agreement.
Sept 17th – Cease-Fire not holding in Beirut and in Tripoli – Government issues
warning they will send in the Army, right now the Security Police will not intervene
and although they threaten to send in army, government is noted as being reluctant
in doing so. Most of the city(s) have been without water and electricity for over 2-
weeks.
Sept 18th – Another cease-fire, but more than 30 have been killed since it was
called for – those entering wrong neighborhoods are captured or killed, there is a
strong doubt in the street about the Army being able to end the latest violence.
Despite cease-fire the violence is really shown to be increasing, where both sides
have set fire to and blown up building, the cabinet is “divided” on whether the Army
should intervene – PM “Rashid Karami” says he will resign rather than send in the
Army. There is a reported 5-block area that is completely ruined, so far in this
battle between the Muslims and Christians.
International TV shows video of Phalange fighting team who claim over 6,000
members now in Beirut – showing them well armed and professionally trained.
Palestinian commando’s (PLO) and some of the left-wing militia men are shown also,
the sides have demolished a good part of the city with their fighting. Local radio
stations warn people to stay home.
September 19th – finds Beirut engulfed in street fights, plastic bomb attacks, with
the downtown section (along with many other areas) on fire, the citizens recoil in
fear --- at night, a cease-fire is announced. Thirty are reported dying today.
A Dusk to Dawn curfew is set on Beirut’s commercial district.
 It is reported that Jordan will now purchase “Hawk” antiaircraft missiles from the
USA, for defense only.
September 21st – snipers shooting at anything that moves, food (bread and
meat) along with gasoline is becoming scarce in Beirut, along with sniper fire there
are sporadic rocket and mortar attacks – there are squads of militia hunting for the
snipers.
This is the 4th major uprising between Christians and Muslims in 1975 – this one
resulting in heavy damage to commercial property – it is reported that Syria is
sending in fire fighting equipment and it is said the Syrian deputy premier assisted
in arranging the 3rd cease-fire.
Many ships wait in the harbor to be unloaded, while many companies are
shutting their doors – some say there may be “no” solution to problem.
Sept 22nd – Fighting continues, although a cease-fire is in effect – the 1st National
bank of New York closes doors and flies their employee’s out of Beirut.
Sept 23rd – Geneva, Egypt signs peace agreement – Israel initials it, they will not
sign until USA Congress approves the part about supplying American technicians.
Sept 24th – Another cease-fire declared in Beirut – some fighting continues.
Sept 25th – USA Senate Foreign Relations Committee wants to “declassify” the
terms of interim peace agreement – Kissinger against it, Senator Frank Church says
committee will “not” approve technicians unless terms made public.
Five Israelis in Moscow making attempt at “restoring” USSR-Israeli diplomatic
relations.
Sept 26th – Fighting resumes in Beirut
Sept 29th – Muslim pirates who seized Japanese ship in Philippines have
surrendered.
September 30th, 1975 Nine killed in fighting, and a commercial airplane owned
by the Hungarian company, “Malev” explodes ten kilometers (6.2 miles) off the
coast of Beirut, killing 60 people including 34 Lebanese.
As a note, since the beginning of the war (and its subsequent end in 1982, as an
arbitrary date) over $40 billion was withdrew from the banks a condition Lebanon
has had a difficult time to overcome.

Oct 1st – United Nations accepts credentials of Israel, ending the Arab movement
to suspend or reject Israel..
 On October 2nd, 1975 Rachid Karami held a meeting of the National Committee
(Parliament – Assemblee Nationale) for dialog at the Grand Serail1 - where it was
decided that “all” armed elements will have to “retreat” from their positions the
next day and would be replaced by Interior Security Forces.
Sept 3rd – USA House approves the sending of technicians to Sinai.
On October 4th, 1975 the Interior Security Forces held in check a land attack
against the Beirut International Airport when 4-armed men tried to hijack an
airplane to fly to Cairo. One was killed and two captured – no reference to the
fourth.
Oct 8th – 50 killed and 150 wounded in Christian-Muslim fighting in Beirut and
Tripoli, whereas it is reported (internationally) that the city(s) are not as
“integrated” as believed as the Palestinian and their guerrillas (PLO) have become
stronger and backed by some Muslims have demanded a much larger voice in the
government of Lebanon. Christian forces are shown voicing their thoughts that it is
the influx of the Palestinians that are the cause for all of Lebanon’s problems –
linking them to the mass exodus of business and the lack of tourists and families of
Lebanese living abroad.
Large fires reported in downtown areas, snipers fire at firemen – one of the large
buildings is owned by Christians.
Oct 9th – Its official the cease-fire has broken down in Beirut, PM Rashid Karami
leaves for Syria (meets with President Assad and PLO Yasser Arafat) begging for
help to restrain the Muslim element in the city – resident’s flea city. There have
been 65 killed in Beirut and Tripoli in the latest flurry.
Much of the fighting takes place at night or sunrise, little during the day – many
diplomats fear that if Syria sends in troops to Lebanon, that Israel will counter
saying they will not tolerate Syrian troops on its border.
Oct 10th – Lebanon reports new cease-fire, but fighting soon broke out again as
explosion racked the city of Beirut. The city is considered by all as being paralyzed
with little that can be done to calm the situation.
PM seeks help from other Arab nations with regard to the chaos in Lebanon, Arab
League agrees to meet in Cairo next week, he has also asked the PLO for
assistance, Arafat “promises” to cool the situation…

1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Serail
 The new cease-fire is being ignored as the fighting militias take to the streets,
and firemen are helpless to fight the fires because of snipers.
Oct 11th – Sniper kills two in a crowd, through the street fighting last night had
calmed down a “peace parade” was organized and a lot of barricades torn down
and with a few soldiers standing guard, their weapons from WWII – local merchants
tried to save some of their merchandise as pushcart peddlers sell what little they
have to sell, whereas there are some quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables. Many
hotels are empty and most banks and major businesses are closed.
Today it is reported that five died in the sporadic fighting, and it is noted that
over 500 have been killed during this last month.
Oct 14th –A truce has been declared, with some gunfire erupting from time to
time in the suburbs of Beirut – some of the businesses have opened.
There are groups of people scattered throughout the city trying vainly to get the
“Switzerland of the Middle East” back into the swing of things, where barricades
have been removed, garbage collected and burned (to eliminate disease and
epidemics), national committee’s roam the streets talking to people as they wait in
lines outside of banks to withdraw their money. Economic loss to the country this
year is calculated at over $3 billion – peace as any long lasting condition remains
only a dream.
Oct 15th – Heavy fighting resumes, 23 killed, 45 wounded in Beirut as
Palestinian guerrillas side with Muslim leftists against Christians lined up on the
right.
Oct 20th – Snipers paralyze the city, 41-year-old Christian on the way to the
store is killed, Phalange militia learn of his death and tell the reporter his family
waits for him in the mountains. It is said fewer are hurt or killed from open fighting
and rocket attacks than from sniper fire – the Phalange capture a 16-year-old
Palestinian but later let him go. The fighting continues.
October 21st, Kamal El Assad was re-elected president of the Chamber
(Parliament) by 47 votes to one – Beirut is still under fire and the list of victims,
whether kidnapped, executed, or shot by snipers or mortar shells is growing.
Oct 22nd – Two United States embassy employees (US Citizens), Charles
Gallagher (44) and William Dykes (50), who ran the United States Information
Agency printing plant were kidnapped in “no-mans-land”, between Christian and
Muslim area, two other Lebanese embassy workers were also kidnapped but soon
released.
Christian Democrats are ordered to respect the latest cease-fire (Muslim snipers
keep shooting at them), and Syrian Muslim workers help the Christian Democrats
build up their barricades – the Democrats told their helpers that Muslims probably
would not shoot other Muslims, but they do. Lebanese soldiers are actively hunting
and shooting at sniper positions.
Oct 23rd – Nothing is heard about the two-Americans that were kidnapped, it is
reported that the left-wing group called “The Flame” has kidnapped them. There
were a total of 115 other kidnapped yesterday, victims often held for a few hours,
some hostages bartered – others murdered.
Oct 24th – Lebanese Army goes into the streets of Beirut, there is a period of
brief calm – fighting later erupts and 15 more are killed.
Oct 25th – it is reported that the fighting is intensifying. 50,000 Lebanese
demonstrate against violence in Lebanon, in response to the call launched by
“Cherit Akhaoui”, the radio journalist famous for his security bulletins.
Oct 27th- The “Murr” tower in the “Kantari” district of Beirut (the highest
building in Beirut) is occupied by the “Mourabitun – Ambushers militia / Sunni force
led by Ibrahim Kulaylat”, and the Holiday Inn, St George, and the Phoenicia is held
by the Phalange Party – and following events draw the country of Lebanon deeper
and deeper into complete chaos.
After the battle of Murr tower, the National Movement (leftist) openly joined the
Fatah – the carnage was massive, averaging 50-deaths per day during the open
battles.
National Movement fighters and youths from the camps looted and destroyed
the stores in the heart of Beirut. Dead and mutilated bodies lay everywhere in
public places, corpses of sexually violated women and children along with men with
their genitals cut off and stuffed in their mouths.
Shop windows were shattered and their contents looted by a multitude of
beggars, many of them small ragged boys from the camps. Garbage piled up in
huge mountains on the streets, piped water and electric power were cut off, and the
citizens were afraid to leave their apartments and seek safety elsewhere, knowing
that as soon as they left they would lose their life’s possessions to looters, who were
even taking “window frames” and “plumbing fixtures” out of residences.
 Adding to the chaos, the Syrian based Palestinian guerrilla group, “Sa’iqa” began
its own campaign of destruction with indiscriminate bombing of the commercial
center of the city – it is (some say) the “covert” beginning of the Syrian assault on a
weaken country. As time would show, before the end of 1975 – President Assad had
started to deploy the “Yarmounk” and “Hittin” brigades of the PLA as well as the
Egyptian based “Ayn Jalout Bridage” in the Bekaa Valley in support of the
Palestinians and the LNM. Syria’s role in the fighting was now “really” moving the
military balance even more in favor of the PLO. Syria forces were shown to have
“already” been active in fighting alongside the PLO units in the north of Lebanon.
After the Initial battle of Kantari was over the two sides settled down to
“desultory” exchanges of fire in a pattern that stretched over a period of months,
they reserved the nights for the “real” attempts to take territory or score victories.
A huge pall of smoke soon rose over the commercial district of the city, one mile
east of the Kantari district. This was the area of warehouses, banks, airline offices,
the Bourse, all the facets of the service economy of which Beirut depended upon,
and which had been generating the bulk of the economy.
Located amidst all of this was the “souks” (bazaars), where amongst the narrow
streets you would find the vegetable, clothes, meat and so on shops. In real
importance were two glittering streets where every shop window displayed gold,
rings, chains, lockets and precious stones – many of the gold dealers were
“Armenians”, there were even a few Jews with spaces filled with some Maronites. In
most streets you would also find Muslims and Christian’s shops side-by-side.
Whatever the religion of the shop owners they all recognized that their shops
played a major role in the economic life of the city. Local people shopped, tourists
when they hit Lebanon flocked there like magpies after popcorn, and inside of this
(behind closed doors) the owners traded and shipped their items across the world.
All-in-all, the souks of Beirut belonged to everyone and a direct benefit of everyone,
now they were being looted by looters from all sides.
120 are reported killed today in Beirut as the fighting spreads to the area were
the foreigners live, and they leave in a mass exodus to the airport which by the end
of the day is jammed with people.
The American Embassy advises all Americans to leave Lebanon unless it is
essential to their business (what business?) the British Embassy advised the same.
The fighting has now spread to some of the luxury hotels.
In Parliament they are unable to reach a quorum. All hiding.