The logic of Israel’s bloodless house destroying operation in six Lebanese border villages last Friday somehow escaped many observers, for there is more to it than the obvious attempt to warn and punish in the wake of the Kiryat Shemona attack. In fact, the Israel Defense Force raid apparently suggests a new course of action by Israel in order to stop terrorists from using the Lebanese border as a staging post for their activities: a course whose prime objective is to turn the local population of southern Lebanon into virtual allies of Israel in the struggle to keep the border quiet.
One must take a brief look into the special character of this population in order to understand the issue. The main body of southern Lebanon inhabitants consists of Muttawallis–Moslems of the Shi’i sect–the most backward and discriminated-against part of the Lebanese population.
These Muttawallis are deprived of any real say in the direction of the state–except through several effendi sons of the great feudal families. Prominent among these is the present chairman of the Lebanese Parliament. Kamel el Asaad, a bachelor playboy who faces growing resentment among his clientele because of his inability to “deliver the goods.”
The goods in this case include protection against Israeli reprisals and Palestinian terrorists and implementation of the Littani River irrigation project. No government can maintain a majority in the Lebanese Parliament unless it is supported by the Muttawalli members. If the villages put enough pressure on these effendis sitting in Parliament, the government may be forced to take action or lose power.
On several occasions in the past some of the Muttawalli villages rose against the terrorists camped nearby. This forced the government in 1970 and again in 1972 to take action in order to evict the terrorists from the area. The same can happen now–or at least, this is what Israel hopes to achieve. The recent Israeli operation was staged primarily as a demonstration of the risks run by the Muttawallis if they do not help themselves.
REACTION SO FAR HAS BEEN PROMISING
The operation was followed by a stern warning by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan that the whole southern Lebanon might be the target of Israeli attacks, if the terrorists find shelter there. He reminded the Muttawallis about the fate of the Jordan Valley villagers turned into refugees a few years ago because of terrorist activities in their area.
Muttawalli reaction so far has been promising. Local head men and notables filed petitions to the Beirut authorities threatening mass migration northward. The effendis are under pressure to use their influence with the government to defend the area. If they fail this time they endanger their chances in the 1976 elections, for their hold on the voters is gradually diminishing.
On the other hand, the Fatah leaders seem to realize what is happening. They are issuing an endless stream of appeals to the Muttawallis not to get frightened. They promise financial aid to those who lost their houses during the Israeli raid.
What will be the Muttawalli response? Will they be able to act as a unified group? How long would it take them to reach a stand? Nobody can tell. The process by which the Muttawallis decide how to react will not be completed overnight. But we are watching now the beginning of the struggle between Israel on one side and the terrorists on the other to win–if not the heart of these Muttawallis–at least their support.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
