LEBANON: PALESTINIAN LEADER HABASH CONDEMNS ISRAEL-EGYPTIAN PEACE ACCORD AND WARNS OF DESTRUCTION OF LEBANESE PROGRESSIVES AND PALESTINIANS AS FIGHTING BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MOSLEMS CONTINUES.

Record ID: 350013

  • Title: LEBANON: PALESTINIAN LEADER HABASH CONDEMNS ISRAEL-EGYPTIAN PEACE ACCORD AND WARNS OF DESTRUCTION OF LEBANESE PROGRESSIVES AND PALESTINIANS AS FIGHTING BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MOSLEMS CONTINUES.
  • Date: 9th September 1975
  • Summary: 1. SV (SILENT) Habash at news conference with another official (in glasses) 0.08 2. CU Anti-U.S. posters and pro-Palestinian poster (3 shots) 0.22 3. SV Newsmen PAN TO Habash speaking in Arabic 0.50 4. CU Newsmen (SILENT) (3 shots) 0.56 5. CU Habash speaking in English 1.36 TRANCRIPT: SEQ. 5: HABASH: "Because to be frank, we expec
  • Embargoed: 24th September 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA5YHK118Z9C8GOKL5W1XZWB69V
  • Story Text: The leader of the Radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (P.F.L.P.) Doctor George Habash condemned on Tuesday (9 September), at a news conference, the recent Israeli-Egyptian peace accord. And he called on all "Palestine liberation forces" to unite in a fresh offensive against Israel.

    He told foreign journalists that the accord represented a critical and important event and demanded a full military and political programme by the Arabs against Israel.

    Doctor Habash also called on the Palestine Liberation Organisation (P.L.O.) to disengage itself from what he dubbed the "reactionary Egyptian-Saudi axis".

    Meanwhile, as Doctor Habash was giving the news conference, fighting continued between rival Christian and Moslem factions in and around the northern city of Tripoli.

    Doctor Habash claimed what he called the "reactionary power" in the Lebanon would try and destroy the Palestine liberation movement and "progressive national forces" in the country.

    Earlier this week the fighting around Tripoli reached new heights. According to reports from near the city, several thousand Christians faced Moslems and "progressive" elements. They exchanged mortar fire, rockets and grenades.

    It was the latest round in a series of vicious battles that has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded.

    The Palestine Liberation Organisation -- the official umbrella of all the Palestine liberation movements based in the Middle East -- has said it does not want to get dragged into the internal affairs of the Lebanon.

    According to reports from Beirut, the role of the Lebanese Army could prove a decisive factor in the future attitude of the Palestinians. What role it will play, if any, lies with the Christina-Moslem Lebanese Cabinet.

    Use of the Army against internal strife is highly sensitive, and the Government according to Reuters, is aware it might increase the fighting rather than stop it.

    This is because the Moslem community has tended to identify the Army as the defender of the Christians. While the palestinian commando movement has in turn come to be seen as defenders of the mainly Moslem left wing.
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