Return of Regular Lebanese Army to South Lebanon is Topic of Discussion

Israeli and Lebanese officers met at the Ras el-Nakura border post today to discuss the return of the regular Lebanese army to south Lebanon which Beirut says is imminent. The Israeli position, which will be conveyed to the authorities in Beirut, is that there are no objections to the deployment of the Lebanese army in the south provided the troops are not dominated by Syria or escorted by Syrian forces. Israel expects them to prevent terrorist activity in the area.

Israel is also insisting that the open fence on the Israeli-Lebanese border continues to function and that no reprisals are taken against the Christian militia in south Lebanon and its commanders. Syria is reported to have demanded that Maj. Saad Hadded and other local Christian commanders be brought to Beirut to face court martials.

Israeli sources do not believe that Lebanese regulars will return to south Lebanon until an agreement is reached with Israel on the integration of the Christian militia into the Lebanese army. The militia is in control of the Christian enclaves in the south and claims to be the vanguard of the regular Lebanese army. Lebanese troops from the north are not expected to take over the enclaves immediately. Today’s meeting was arranged by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Meanwhile, Israel had no comment on reports from Palestinian circles that the leader of the Christian Phalangist army, Beshir Joumayyel, has visited or is about to visit Israel. Saudian sources claimed Joumayyel was brought to Israel aboard an Israeli naval vessel but Joumayyel denied that. However, rumors persist that he visited Israel recently to warn of Syrian attempts to annihilate the Lebanese Christian community.