TALKING POINTS: THE PALESTINIANS IN LEBANON

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05083805
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-00205
• Publication Date: September 30, 1982

Approved for Release: 2019/07/16 C05083805
(b)(3)
A/NIO/NESA
30 September 1982(b)(3)
(b)(6)
Talking Points: The Palestinians in Lebanon
1. The Shatila-Sabra camps massacre was not an isolated incident. It is
increasingly apparent that the killings were part of a larger campaign by
extremist Christian factions in Lebanon to intimidate the Palestinian
community (as well as Lebanon's Muslims) and encourage Palestinians to
emigrate to the Syrian-controlled Biqa Valley and ultimately to Syria iteslf.
-- The US Embassy in Beirut has reported that Palestinians -
throughout Israeli-occupied Lebanon are living in fear and a few
have been subjected to random acts of violence by Phalange
extremists.
-- A well-informed Lebanese newspaper reported this week that the
Lebanese government is considering a plan to transfer all refugees
to the Biqa as a step toward deporting 75% of all Lebanon's
refugees.
-- Israel's highly respected military correspondent Zev Schiff
recently noted that his sources report the massacre "was not a
spontaneous act of revenge.., but an act that was planned
beforehand with the objective of causing a mass flight of
Palestinians from Beirut."
There is no evidence that Israel is actively participating in this campaign
and it has sought to maintain law and order in the south. Nonetheless, Tel
Aviv's interests are served by the emigration of Palestinians from the border
region, a fact Begin and Sharon are well aware of.
2. A Palestinian emigration from Beirut and south Lebanon could have
other effects as well. In Lebanon, a large-scale migration to the Biqa will
serve to further destabilize that area and further entrench the PLO presence
in the valley and in Tripoli where several Palestinian refugee camps already
exist. Moreover, while Lebanese Muslims often show little love for their
Palestinian brothers, a heavy handed campaign against them serves to weaken
President Amin Jumayyil's credibility as a leader above all Lebanese
factions. A large-scale migration to Syria could undermine the stability of
the Assad government and strengthen the hands of its extremist Islamic
opponents.
3. In broader terms, a campaign against the Palestinians in Lebanon will
damage US credibility in the Arab world. We have adopted the role as the
refugees' protector by negotiating the PLO's evacuation from Beirut and by
sending the MNF into the city. Arab popular opinion already holds the US
partly responsible for the massacre and will judge our credibility as an even-
handed peace negotiator in part by the protection we afford Lebanon's
Palestinians.
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Approved for Release: 2019/07/16 C05083805
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Approved for Release: 2019/07/16 C05083805