Chief of chief Gen. Raphael Eitan said today that Israel’s policy of surprise strikes of Palestinian terrorist bases in Lebanon has resulted in a substantial reduction of terrorist activity against Israel.
Eiton spoke on television after the latest preemptive raid by Israeli forces in Lebanon. Last night a sea-borne Israeli force struct what were described as Palestine Liberation Organization positions on the Lebanese coast 25 kilometers south of Beirut and 70 kilometers north of the Israeli borders. The raid was one of the most northerly penetrations of Lebanon ever carried out by Israel.
At least six terrorists were killed and, according to reports from both sides, many were wounded. Eiton said Israel’s policy is to hit the terrorists before they can plan and organize actions against Israel. He stressed that the policy was not one of retaliation but of preventive action.
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