Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
85BEIRUT4802
1985-08-19 15:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

A BAD WEEK FOR BEIRUT

Tags:  LE PGOV PTER 
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O 191547Z AUG 85
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4425
INFO AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 04802 

E.O. 12356: OADR: DECL
TAGS: PTER PGOV LE
SUBJECT: A BAD WEEK FOR BEIRUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 04802

E.O. 12356: OADR: DECL
TAGS: PTER PGOV LE
SUBJECT: A BAD WEEK FOR BEIRUT

1.(U) SUMMARY. THE WEEK AUGUST 11-18 WITNESSED THE WORST
OUTBREAKS OF VIOLENCE IN BEIRUT SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE SYRIAN SECURITY PLAN FOR WEST BEIRUT. TWO MASSIVE
CAR BOMBS ROCKED EAST BEIRUT ON AUGUST 14 AND 17, AND
SHELLING ACROSS THE GREENLINE INTENSIFIED UNTIL A
FRAGILE CEASEFIRE WAS PUT BACK IN PLACE ON AUGUST 15.
OTHER VIOLENCE WAS REPORTED IN ZAHLE, NEAR THE PALESTINIAN
CAMPS, AND IN TYRE. MEANWHILE THE INABILITY OF THE
CABINET TO MEET SYMBOLIZED THE CONTINUED STALL IN THE
POLITICAL PROCESS. END SUMMARY.

2.(U) EARLY IN THE WEEK BLIND SHELLING ACROSS THE
GREEN LINE RESUMED, CULMINATING IN A SIX HOUR EXCHANGE
OF HEAVY ARTILLERY AND ROCKET FIRE ON AUGUST 15 THAT
ENDED FINALLY AT THE FOURTH ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE A CEASE-
FIRE. INTERMITTENT SHELLING HAS SINCE OCCURED, BUT AT
A REDUCED RATE. A WEDNESDAY NOON CAR BOMB IN SADD AL
BASHURIYAH CAUSED 13 DEATHS.

3.(U) SATURDAY'S CAR BOMB, OUTSIDE A BUSY SUPERMARKET
ON THE MAIN COASTAL ROAD IN ANTILYAS, CAUSED 67 DEATHS
AND 122 WOUNDED. MOST OF THE DEATHS WERE CAUSED BY THE
FIRE THAT TRAPPED SHOPPERS AND EMPLOYEES INSIDE THE
BOMBED BUILDING, BUT THE BLAST ITSELF, ESTIMATED AT THE
FORCE OF 1,000 KILOS OF TNT, WAS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO HURL
FIVE BODIES ACROSS THE COASTAL HIGHWAY AND INTO THE SEA.
ACCORDING TO THE PRESS AGENCY "MARKAZIA" RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE BOMB HAS BEEN CLAIMED BY A GROUP CALLING ITSELF
"THE RED HAND - BRIGADE OF SADR."

4. (U) DURING THE WEEK ZAHLE HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO
EARLY MORNING ATTACKS THAT HAVE CAUSED ONLY MATERIAL
DAMAGE. ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, LF LEADER ELIE
HOBAYKA AGREED AT A FRIDAY MEETING WITH A LOCAL GREEK
CATHOLIC DELEGATION TO CLOSE PHALANGE OFFICES IN THE
CITY AND TO WITHDRAW LF MILITIAMEN.

5. (U) IN OTHER EVENTS THERE WAS AN ATTACK ON AMAL OFFICES
IN TYRE ON AUGUST 15. LEBANESE STATE TV REPORTED FIRST
THAT THIS ATTACK HAD BEEN COMMITTED BY HIZBALLAH FORCES
TO PROTEST AMAL RESTRICTIONS ON HIZBALLAH ACTIVITIES IN
THE SOUTH AND THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE FIRE COULD HAVE
COME FROM A ISRAELI PATROL VESSEL. ON AUGUST 17 THERE
WAS A CLASH USING AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND RPG'S BETWEEN
AMAL AND PLO FORCES OUTSIDE THE SABRA CAMP. PALESTINIANS
CLAIMED THAT AMAL WAS HOLDING MOUSTAPHA DIAB, AKA
ABOUL FATEH, HEAD OF THE ARAFAT FORCES IN LEBANON. AN
AUTHORIZED AMAL SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AMAL WAS NOT NOW
HOLDING ANY PALESTINIANS.

6. (U) THE WEEK ALSO FAILED TO REGISTER ANY FORWARD
PROGRESS IN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS. IN FACT AFTER THE
ANTILYAS CAR BOMB PRIME MINISTER KARAME WAS QUOTED AS
SAYING HE "DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, WHETHER TO RESIGN OR
TO CONTINUE ON." SHIITE CABINET MINISTERS USAYRAN AND
BARRI, AFTER ANNOUNCING THAT THEY WOULD ATTEND A MEETING
OF MUSLIM CABINET MINISTERS ON AUGUST 19, STATED THAT
"IT IS TIME THAT THE SECURITY CONDITION IMPROVES AND THAT
SYRIA CONTRIBUTES TO AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE GROUND." FOR
ITS PART THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LF ISSUED A
STATEMENT "PROMISING TO TAKE REVENGE FOR INNOCENT
VICTIMS AND TO UNDERTAKE A RESPONSE AT A LEVEL COMMEN-
SURATE WITH THE CRIME."

7. (C) COMMENT. LAST WEEK'S EVENTS HAD NO POSITIVE ASPECT.
LITTLE IS EXPECTED TO COME FROM TODAY'S MEETING OF
MUSLIM CABINET MINISTERS, FROM WHICH THE TRAVELING
WALID JUMBLATT WILL BE ABSENT. ON THE CHRISTIAN SIDE
CONSULTATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN PREPARATION
FOR FRANJIYYAH'S RELEASE ON SEPT. 1 OF HIS PROPOSALS
FOR REFORM. ON THE SECURITY FRONT THERE ARE TOO MANY
FLASHPOINTS - ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER STRIP, NEAR THE
PALESTINIAN CAMPS, ALONG THE GREEN LINE, IN ZAHLE OR
IN TRIPOLI, TO PREDICT A QUIET WEEK AHEAD.


BARTHOLOMEW