Fateful Triangle

Aftermath610after, Major Haddad stated “that his Israeli-backed militia intends tocontrol a 30-mile-deep strip of territory north of the Israeli border untilthe Beirut government signs a peace treaty with Israel,” adding that“there are no regular Lebanese army units allowed in this area,” and nomembers of the Phalangist militia. 41These arrangements had in fact been evident during the fightingitself. By mid-July, it was announced that Haddad’s forces would rulethe area up to the Awali river just north of Sidon, 55 km. north of theIsraeli border. Haddad had already established his office in the rooms ofthe former Lebanese authorities for the Sidon region. A few weeks later,Yehuda Tsur reported in Al Hamishmar that Israel is not only helpinghim to take control of this area but is “preventing the Phalangists frompenetrating the region under [Haddad’s] control” as part of “the strugglefor the establishment of a new order in Lebanon” (even here, in thejournal of the dovish-left of the Labor Alignment, the term is usedwithout comment or embarrassment). Tsur adds that the Haddad forcesare the only Lebanese elements to have cooperated with Israel in thefighting. “It should be noted that in the early days of the Beirut siege thePhalangists attempted to attack a terrorist position, but were driven backand in the battle a number of Gemayel’s soldiers were killed. From thenon they refused any involvement in active fighting.” 42 Their turn wouldcome later.In short, during the fighting Major Haddad had already been establishedas “overlord of all southern Lebanon south of the Awali river,which runs just north of Sidon.” He is “Israel’s creation, entirely dependentand therefore entirely dependable.” Israel had permitted the civilianLebanese administration to remain in Haddad’s territory “because itbarely functions,” but “to ensure Major Haddad’s authority, Lebanesearmy troops have been ordered out of their barracks in southern towns,disarmed and replaced by the Haddad militia.” Israel was thus acting toClassics in Politics: The Fateful TriangleNoam Chomsky