Empire: World History 352. Israel’s 1982 Invasion of Lebanon (Part 7)
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Apr 20, 2026 
Kim Ghattas, Lebanese journalist and author of Black Wave, provides concise political and historical analysis. She recounts Lebanon’s prewar cosmopolitanism, the Cairo Accords and Palestinian militarization, Ariel Sharon’s aims and Israeli-Likud strategy, the Phalangists and Bashir Gemayel, the 1982 invasion and Beirut siege, and the unfolding of the Sabra and Shatila massacre.
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Lebanon Before The War Felt Cosmopolitan
- Kim Ghattas remembers prewar Lebanon as a cosmopolitan hub of festivals, casinos, nightclubs and diverse culture.
- She contrasts that vibrant 1960s–70s life with rising tensions after the 1969 Cairo Accords and increasing Palestinian militant presence.
1969 Cairo Accords Triggered Lebanon's Destabilization
- The 1969 Cairo Accords were a turning point that allowed Palestinian militants to operate from Lebanon and seeded the later conflict.
- Syria pressured Lebanon into signing the accords and an influx of militants after Black September in 1970 intensified instability.
Sharon's Secret Plan Turned A 'Lobotomy' Into Beirut Siege
- Ariel Sharon, as defence minister in 1982, pushed a secret plan to invade Lebanon to expel the PLO and install a pro‑Israel Christian president.
- He misled his cabinet and told the US it was a short 'lobotomy' limited to 40 km, while planning to reach Beirut.