Speeding Israel’s Withdrawal

An increasing number of Israelis are urging their government to bring its occupation forces home from Lebanon now, rather than waiting another six or seven months to complete the phased withdrawal that began last week. Behind this rising clamor is the realization, acknowledged even by many who once strongly supported Israel’s ambitious military and political objectives in Lebanon, that the security value of remaining in the country is not worth the daily casualties being suffered. The growing mood in Israel is that it would be best to cut losses now, and worry later about the potential consequences of an early pullout.

All this poses a problem for Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Both were deeply critical of the previous government’s policies in Lebanon, and both are committed to ending that tragic misadventure as expeditiously as possible. But both are also concerned about future security along Israel’s border with Lebanon, and what could happen there after the Israeli army has come home.

Israel has placed its best hope for trying to achieve post-withdrawal border security on the local Israeli-created mercenary force known as the South Lebanon Army. The original withdrawal timetable was in fact drawn up with an eye toward giving the SLA time to develop the strength and capabilities needed for that mission. But the quality and trustworthiness of the SLA are wide open to doubt. By one estimate, as many as 20% of the 2,500-man group has already defected or deserted in the face of local hostility. There is no reason to assume that the SLA will be any more formidable or reliable a force in six months than it is now.

It has been apparent for a long time that Israel stands to salvage little indeed from the enormously costly blunder of its move into Lebanon. True, the invasion led in time to the political rupture of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the diminution of its military strength. But in place of the PLO Israel now finds itself confronted with a no-less-threatening and certainly more fanatical enemy--the Lebanese Shias who take their guidance from Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The Israeli army, forced contrary to all its doctrine and inclination to go on the defensive, is incapable of dealing effectively with this threat, and it has become obvious that nothing but further needless casualties can be gained by continuing to try. It is best, then, that Israel forget its earlier plans for phased withdrawal, and act to get its forces out of Lebanon as quickly as possible.