Shultz Criticizes Israel, Cites ‘Lesson’ of 1982

Secretary of State George P. Shultz criticized the Israelis for their commando raid into Lebanon today, saying they should have learned their lesson after an invasion there in 1982.

“It’s a surprise to me, and I’ll just have to learn more about it before I make any comment,” Shultz told reporters at the NATO headquarters here, where he is meeting with alliance foreign ministers.

Then, in a rare display of public pique with a key ally, he added: “But I had thought that by this time the Israelis would have learned their lesson about putting troops well inside Lebanon. It didn’t work before.”

Israel sent troops as far as Beirut six years ago in an attempt to stamp out Palestinian guerrilla groups and became bogged down there in an action that was roundly criticized abroad and caused serious problems at home.

Shultz has been a stalwart supporter of Israel in his seven years of office and caused an international furor last month by refusing a visa to let Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat address the United Nations in New York.