The Dig Thawra Ep. 16 – Siege of Beirut
Jul 30, 2024
Abdel Razzaq Takriti, an expert on Arab radicalism, dives into the historical context of the Palestinian Revolution's decline during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. He discusses the PLO's evacuation and the catastrophic aftermath, including the brutal massacres of civilians. The conversation also highlights how geopolitical shifts, particularly Egypt's normalization with Israel, reshaped the Arab revolutionary landscape. Takriti emphasizes the resilience of the Palestinian struggle amidst these dark moments and reflects on the long-term implications for regional politics.
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Lebanon War Grew From Local Sectarian And Class Fault Lines
- The Lebanese Civil War combined internal Lebanese capitalist and sectarian tensions with the arrival of armed Palestinian forces.
- Maronite elites saw the PLO as a threat to their dominance, turning local disputes into a regionalized conflict.
Assad Backed Maronites To Preserve Syrian Hegemony
- Syria intervened in Lebanon to prevent a PLO-led victory that would reduce Syrian influence; Assad preferred a stalemate.
- The US and Israel tacitly supported Syrian entry to weaken the PLO and curb its autonomy.
PLO Protected US Personnel While Cultivating CIA Contacts
- The PLO provided security to US personnel in Lebanon even as Washington refused formal recognition.
- Ali Hassan Salameh cultivated CIA contacts to open channels; Israel later assassinated him to block US-PLO ties.