Lebanon’s Peace and Israel

Egyptian consul Hamdi Saleh (“Lebanon’s Peace Depends on Friends and Foes Outside,” Op-Ed Page, Sept. 26) suggests that the only downside of the unending Syrian military occupation of Lebanon has been the extent to which other countries, notably Israel, have used it to justify meddling in that country’s internal affairs. Indeed, he implies that the only reason foreign forces, such as Syria’s, remain in Lebanon is to stop Israeli “expansion.”

Saleh is, of course, mistaken. The Syrian occupation of Lebanon, which has been marked by a brutality seldom addressed by the Western media, has virtually nothing to do with Israel. It has everything, however, to do with Syria’s prickly relationship with Lebanon’s various communities. And with the persisting conviction in Damascus that Lebanon remains an integral part of greater Syria.

The carnage being wreaked in war-torn Beirut is merely the latest round in Syria’s long-standing military adventurism in Lebanon. The Syrian army entered Lebanon in June, 1976, for the sole purpose of annexing the country. Toward that end, Syria opposes any foreign involvement in Lebanon and has suppressed any Lebanese elements opposed to its rule.

Indeed, it is Iraq, entirely unmentioned in Saleh’s analysis, which has become embroiled in the Lebanese tragedy by supplying Christian forces in Lebanon with massive shipments of arms. Iraq’s Saddam Hussein has his own scores to settle with Syria’s Hafez Assad over the latter’s support for Iran during seven years of the all-out war with that country. Iraq is being assisted in its efforts to bolster the Christians, oddly enough, by the PLO--formerly the Christian’s sworn enemies!

The Arab League, Saleh also failed to mention, blamed Syria, not Israel, for Lebanon’s current trouble. Indeed, in recent months tens of thousands of Beirut refugees flocked to Israel’s security zone in southern Lebanon, the only place in the entire country they feel safe. The Israeli presence within this thin strip is solely intended to head off attacks against Israeli populated areas by hostile Shiite and Palestinian terrorists.

Israel has never had territorial ambitions in any part of Lebanon except the establishment of neighborly relations with that country.

ILAN MOR

Consul for Press and Information

Israel Consulate General

Los Angeles