Cease-fire in Effect in S. Lebanon; 8 Israelis Injured in Last Minute Rocket Attacks on Northern Tow

A cease-fire went into effect in southern Lebanon at ten o’clock local time this morning but not before last minute Katyusha rocket attacks by terrorists on Kiryat Shemona and Safad wounded eight Israelis. A 26-year-old mother and her child were seriously hurt. Two other persons sustained moderate injuries and four were released from the hospital after treatment.

The cease-fire was arranged through the good offices of the U.S. Embassies in Tel Aviv, Beirut and Damascus which had made intensive efforts to end the warfare in southern Lebanon. Israel was a signatory of the documents exchanged with the Americans as were Lebanon and Syria which represented the Palestinians. Israeli officials stressed that the latter were not a direct partner in the agreements and that Israel had no dealings whatsoever with them. Some observers here suggested that this might be a serious flaw because the terrorists could claim the agreements were not binding on them.

The cease-fire confirmed long standing reports–vigorously denied by Israel in the past–that Israeli forces were stationed inside Lebanon. Those forces were in fact deployed in the Lebanese Christian enclave north of the Israeli border town of Metullah for at least the past several weeks. This morning they crossed the border back to Israel. Crowds lined the streets of Metullah as an Israeli armored unit consisting of 6-7 tanks and an infantry unit on halftracks and in jeeps passed through the open fence.

ISRAEL PROTECTED CHRISTIANS

It was learned that the Israelis had entered Lebanon on the orders of Defense Minister Ezer Weizman with the agreement of Premier Menachem Begin. Officials here said the sole objective was to protect the Christians from attacks by Moslems and Palestinian terrorists. The officials insisted that the Israeli armor and infantry took no part in the battles but rather provided security for Christian forces. They did not explain how that was accomplished without entering into combat.

The officials also said it was the Defense Minister who, with Begin’s approval, initiated the talks that resulted in the cause-fire. It came at a time when Christian forces were hard pressed in the Marj Ayoun area and were unable to dislodge the Palestinians from the Khyam area. Christian morale was also at a low point. The Syrians were said to have agreed because they feared increasing Israeli involvement would lead to clashes, the officials said.

The cease-fire requires the Palestinians to withdraw at least 10 kilometers from the Israeli border. Syrian forces are to remain north of the Litani River Lebanese troops will take over the positions evacuated by Israel.

Israeli sources noted that today’s agreement was a sequel or annex to the all-Arab Stoura agreement that provided for a cease-fire throughout Lebanon. That agreement, in which Israel had no part, never took hold in the southern region of the country.