Rabin Predicts End of Lebanese Conflict Will Present Israel with a Special Security Problem

Premier Yitzhak Rabin said over the weekend that he expects, an extended conflict in Lebanon, but once it is over the Lebanese border will present a special threat to Israel’s security. Meanwhile, Rabin said in an interview with the Histadrut newspaper Davar, “the central military element in Lebanon presently is the Syrian army.”

Rabin said that Syria is “interested in a calm border with Israel to avoid any Israeli pretext for intervention in Lebanon.” He said the success of Israel’s policy of hitting terrorist bases has proven itself by the fact that there are no foreign forces in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border.

The Lebanese conflict has prevented the Arab world from directing its attention to a possible settlement with Israel, Rabin said. He noted that there is also less danger now of all Arab military coordination against Israel. “I prefer this reality rather than a concentration of the radical Arab forces for a confrontation with Israel,” he said. Rabin said the Lebanese conflict has provided an opportunity for a public opinion campaign against the Palestine Liberation Organization. “The PLO has undoubtedly proved itself to be a cancerous body in the entire fabric of the Arab world.” he said. “Lebanon was the only secular country in the Arab world in which Christians and Moslems could live together and the PLO has destroyed that co-existence.”

PROGRAM DUE ON KADUM ISSUE

On other issues, Rabin said he will soon present to the Cabinet a detailed program for the removal of the Gush Emunim settlement at Kadum in Samaria. “Gush Emunim is a political movement which threatens the democratic system in Israel,” he said. He asserted that the government should also act strongly against any other unauthorized settlement. But, he said, action against Gush Emunim, must not be only by force but also by arousing public opinion against them.

Referring to the rescue mission in Uganda. Rabin said that was an example of how the Cabinet should work. He said the decision was taken by the entire Cabinet, not just the ministerial security committee. “This should guide us also in the future when security decisions are involved.” he said.