Allon Warns Palestinian Involvement in Lebanon Could Happen Elsewhere

Foreign Minister Yigal Allon warned here today that the involvement of Palestinian terror groups–whether the Palestine Liberation Army or other Palestine Liberation Organization units which have manifested themselves in Lebanon could be repeated in other Arab countries. Replying to a motion for the agenda in the Knesset on the civil war in Lebanon, Allon said the Palestinians, without any direct interests in the Lebanese war issue, had played the role of mercenaries, doing the bidding of Syria.

The Lebanese episode, he said,–and its final outcome and repercussions were still shrouded in ambiguity–proved the real meaning of the PLO’s much-vaunted aim of a “secular, democratic state.” Allon said Israel grieved at the human tragedy across its border. But at the same time, it remained warily on guard against developments there that might affect its security.

While it would not intervene in internal affairs in any other country, it had warned that Syrian invasion in an attempt to annex part of Lebanon to a “greater Syria” would be seen by Israel as a threat to its vital interests. The Israeli warning had been a powerful factor, perhaps the most powerful, in deterring such Syrian action, Allon said.

Israel had been depressed to witness the silence of those “who purport to be the protectors of the Lebanese Christians”–a clear reference to France and to the church bodies. The security threat stemmed not only from outright invasion, but also from the risk of increased terrorist presence and activity in Lebanon. Allon said. Israel was keeping its guard up, he declared.