Nazi Lebanon Invasion: The Record
When And How It Began
It began when the Israelis wanted it to begin. The plan for the invasion had been ready for many months, and Defense Minister Ariel Sharon had been chafing to implement it—but had been held back by Prime Minister Begin because the time was not right. For once, Mr. Begin wanted to accommodate the U.S. Administration, which saw Israeli evacuation from Sinai as the only positive development in the Middle East that the U.S. could take some credit for, and was extremely anxious for the Israelis not to do anything that could delay it. Once the evacuation was finished, Mr. Begin no longer felt constrained. At the same time, other developments—such as the growing divisions in the Arab world over what to do about Iran, the isolation of Syria and its preoccupation with ...
