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ABSTRACT
This article ponders Israeli-Druze relations during Lebanon’s 1983 War of the Mountain in light of derestricted sources pertaining to the Robert C. McFarlane mission in Lebanon. After the assassination of the Lebanese President-elect Bashir Gemayel in September 1982 and the rise to the presidency of his brother Amine, Israel’s relations with Lebanon’s Christians soured. By contrast, Israel’s connections with the Lebanese Druze intensified, and the Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin threatened to establish a “Druze Canton/Israeli Protectorate” in the Shuf-Aley region. Ostensibly, Walid Jumblatt, the leader of the Druze community, allied himself during the Lebanese Civil War with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Syria. Untapped diplomatic documents show, however, that Jumblatt also courted Israel and developed ties with the Menachem Begin administration. Uri Lubrani, an Israeli official who recruited members of Israel’s Druze community to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the 1950s, played an important role in developing Israel’s ties with Jumblatt. In this paper, I flesh out the dynamics of Israel’s discrete relations with Lebanon’s Druze community and their implications on the trajectory of the Lebanese conflict.
Acknowledgments
The author wishes to thank the staff at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for their help in finding the material needed for this study, and the editor of JMEA, Professor Franck Salameh, for his excellent suggestions and comments.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 See the memoirs of Amine Gemayel, Al-Riʾasa al-Muqawima (Beirut: Bayt al-Mustaqbal, 2020), 128. See also the memoirs of Elie Salem, Al-Khayarat al-Saʿba (Beirut: Sharikat al-Matbuʿat li-l-Tawziʿ wa-l-Nashr, 1997), 168.
2 According to Western intelligence sources cited by Alain Ménargues, 8,500 non-Lebanese fighters participated in the War of the Mountain alongside the Druze forces, including 2,000 Palestinians of the Yarmuk Brigade, and 5,400 regular Syrian soldiers of the 85 and 62 Brigades in the Syrian Armed Forces. There were also Libyan, Iranian, and Yemeni volunteers. Facing them were approximately 2,500 men under Samir Geagea, a military commander who later became the uncontested leader of the Lebanese Forces. See Alain Ménargues, Les Secrets de la Guerre du Liban: Des Massacres de Sabra et Chatila au Voyage d’Amine Gemayel à Damas (Beirut: Librairie Internationale, 2012), 445.
3 Sharif Fayyad, Nar Fawqa Rawabi el-Jabal (Beirut: al-Dar al-Taqadumiyya, 2016), 290–93.
4 See Walid Jumblatt’s declaration reported by the Lebanese daily al-Safir on June 25, 1982.
5 Haliyyat, Summer 1982, Issue 27, 101.
6 Ibid. See also Haliyyat, Winter 1983, Issue 29, 111.
7 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 2945, September 9, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Lebanese Redraft of Ceasefire Proposals,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
8 Al-Idara al-Madaniyya, Harb el-Jabal Fi Lubnan, Difa‘an al-Wujud wal-Karama (Beirut, No Publisher, 1984), 241.
9 Haliyyat, Summer 1983, Issue 31, 166.
10 Ibid., 184.
11 See a report covering Raja Harb’s funeral featured by the Lebanese daily al-Anba‘ on November 19, 2022. Available at: جنبلاط: صفقّوا لرجا. وابي المنى: كان الحكيم يوم المصالحة - جريدة الأنباء الإلكترونية (anbaaonline.com)
12 Al-Idara al-Madaniyya, Harb el-Jabal Fi Lubnan, 49.
13 Fayyad, Nar Fawqa, 51.
14 Paul Andari, Al-Jabal Haqiqa La Tarham (Self-Published, 2020), 25.
15 Ibid., 44–47.
16 Roger J.Azzam, Liban, L’instruction d’un crime: 30 ans de guerre (Paris: Cheminements, 2005), 355.
17 Gemayel, al-Riʾasa al-Muqawima, 147.
18 Ze’ev Schiff and Ehud Ya’ari, Israel’s Lebanon War (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984), 93. Note that Arafat predicted the same regarding his Shia allies and the Syrians.
19 Ibid., 134.
20 Ibid., 244–45.
21 Itamar Rabinovitch, The War for Lebanon, 1970–1983 (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1984), 157, 180.
22 Simon Schiffer, Kurat al-Thalj, ʾAsrar al-Tadakhol al-Israʾili Fi Lubnan (Dar al-Amal wal-Salam, No date), 301.
23 Ibid., 284–85.
24 Ariel Sharon, Warrior (New York: Simon&Schuster, 2005), 546–47.
25 Makram Rabah, Al-Nizaʾ ʾala Jabal Lubnan (Beirut: Umam lil-Tawthiq wal-Abhath, 2022), 353–54.
26 Ibid., 294.
27 Zeidan Atashi, Druze&Jews In Israel, A Shared Destiny? (Portland, Oregon: Sussex Academic Press, 1997), 147.
28 Ibid., 155.
29 Ibid., 154.
30 Ibid., 155.
31 Ibid., 149.
32 Ibid., 158.
33 Ménargues, Les Secrets de la Guerre, 263, 251, 314. And Haliyyat, Autumn 1983, Issue 32, 136.
34 Ménargues, Les Secrets de la Guerre, 311–12. And Haliyyat, Autumn 1983, Issue 32, 116.
35 Ménargues, Ibid., 379.
36 Ibid., 251, 91, 314.
37 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2257, August 13, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Briefing by Gen.Tannous on LAF Planning for the Shuf, 12 Aug 1983,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
38 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRYT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2521, August 23, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meetings with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Kamil Al-As“ad, August 22” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
39 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 256, August 23, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Prime Minister Wazzan, August 22,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. Note that Wazzan also told McFarlane that Israel was allowing arms to be delivered to Nabih Berri’s Shia militia, Amal, in West Beirut.
40 Memo, AMEMBASSY CAIRO to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8124, August 22, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Call on President Mubarak, August 21” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
41 Memo, AMEMBASSY ROME to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2529, August 27, 1983, “Report of Israeli Druze Infiltrating Lebanon,” Box 117, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
42 Memo, AMEMBASSY JEDDA to WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2338, August 23, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Message from King Fahd,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
43 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2190, August 11, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Clashes Trigger Decisions on Tripartite Coordination,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
44 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMDIATE 5596, August 17, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Highlights of Meetings in Israel 16–17, 1983,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
45 Memo, AMCONSUL JERUSALEM to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT FLASH 0178/SECSTATE WASHDC FLASH 6291, August 19, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Uri Lubrani: Terms for Meeting with Jumblatt,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
46 Ibid.
47 Ibid.
48 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5659, August 20, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Lubrani, August 20, 1983,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
49 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5663, August 21, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: (Conversation with Uri Lubrani), Arrangements for Jumblatt meeting and for redeployment coordination,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
50 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT FLASH 3341, August 22, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Jumblatt,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
51 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT NIACT IMMEDIATE 3346, August 23, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: GOL-Druze Relations,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
52 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC, NIACT IMMEDIATE, September 2, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Ambassador Lewis’ Demarche to the Israelis,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
53 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC 2800, September 05, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Druze Negotiations, September 1–3,” Box 118, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
54 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT FLASH 3349, August 23, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Druze,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
55 Ibid.
56 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS FLASH 9657, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Jumblatt Meeting,” August 24, 1983, Box 117, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
57 Memo, AMEMBASSY PARIS to SECSTATE WASHDC INTACT IMMEDIATE 7592, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with McFarlane, Jumblatt and Haddad, August 27, 1983,” Box 117, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
58 Memo, AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 3654, September 3, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Contacts with Jumblatt In Damascus,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
59 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5916, September 01, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Arens, Levy, Lubrani, Et Al,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
60 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV FLASH 1030, September 1, 1983, “Critical Message Re Druze Threat,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
61 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC 2800, September 5, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Druze Negotiations September 1–3,” Box 118, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
62 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5947, September 2, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Uri Lubrani Readout on Beirut Discussions,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
63 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC 2800, September 5, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Druze Negotiations September 1-3.”
64 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 2750, September 3, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: September 3 Meeting with President Gemayel,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
65 See Asher Kaufman, “Belonging and Continuity: Israeli Druze and Lebanon, 1982–2000,” International Journal of Middle East Studies, Number 48, 2016, 645. For more on the “Blood Covenant” see William F.S. Miles, “After Israel’s Nationality Law of 2018: Is the ‘Blood Covenant’ Broken for the Druze,” The Journal of the Middle East and Africa 14, 4 (October-December 2023): 415–34. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21520844.2023.2273696?scroll=top&needAccess=true.
66 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to RUEHC/SEC STATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4296, June 14, 1983, “Druze Leaders Seek American and Israeli Support for Druze in Lebanon,” Box 103, Lebanon Situation Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
67 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2289, August 15, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Strategy For the Immediate Future,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
68 Ibid.
69 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2294, August 15, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Lebanese Team, August 14,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
70 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2439, August 19, 1983, Memo, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Fallout of Arens’ Visit to Beirut,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
71 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC NIASCT IMMEDIATE 5594, August 17, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Highlights of Meetings in Israel, August 16–17, 1983,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
72 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDSC NIACT IMMEDIATE 2370, August 17, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Tripartite Meeting, August 17,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
73 Memo, SECSTATE WASHDC to AMCONSUL JERUSALEM IMMEDIATE 9123, August 16, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Strategy for the Immediate Future,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
74 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to WHITEHOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2446, August 19, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Lebanese Working Group, August 19,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
75 Memo, AMEMBASSY CAIRO to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8124, August 22, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Call on President Mubarak, August 21.”
76 Memo, AMCONSUL JERUSALEM to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6141, August 5, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: August 3 Meeting with Arens,” Box 115, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
77 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2075, August 5, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Defmin Arens, 4 August, 1983,” Box 115, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
78 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5663, August 21, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: (Conversation with Lubrani) Arrangements for Jumblatt Meeting for Redeployment Coordination, August 21, 1983,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also Memo, AMEMBASSY CAIRO to SECTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 7985, August 19, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: August 19 Meeting with Prime Minister Begin,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
79 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 2545, August 24, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: August 23 Meeting with Minister of Defense Arens Et Al,” Box 117, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
80 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV NIACT IMMEDIATE 0186, August 14, 1983, “Miscellaneous Items: Israeli-Lebanese Relations,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
81 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5343, August 4, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Prime Minister Begin, August 4, 1983,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
82 Memo, SECSTATE WASHDC to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 0000, July 30, 1983, “Israeli Officials Comment on the Shuf,” Box 104, Lebanon Situation, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
83 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5428, August 9, 1983, “Lubrani and Kimche Comment on the Situation in the Shouf and GOL/Druze Negotiations”, Box 104, Lebanon Situation, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
84 Memo, “US Participation in Tripartite Meeting, August 4, 1983, 8:00 pm,” August 3, 1983, Box 55, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also “Outline Talks in Beirut,” no date, Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
85 Memo, CIA to RUEAJU/NPIC, August 25, 1983, “Preparations by Both the Druze Progressive Socialist Party and the Christian Lebanese Forces for Clashes in the Shuf After the Israeli Withdrawal,” Box 104, Lebanon Situation, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
86 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1391, June 30, 1983, “Status of Druze-LAF Efforts to Reach Agreement on Army Deployment in the Shuf/Alayh,” Box 103, Lebanon Situation, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Reagan Library.
87 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV NIACT IMMEDIATE 0186, August 14, 1983, “Miscellaneous Items: Israeli-Lebanese Relations.”
88 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2453, August 19, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Fairbanks-Gemayel Meeting August 19,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
89 Memo, MCFARLANE to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE, August 19, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Legal Considerations and DOD Questions on Possible MNF/UNTSO Roles,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
90 Shultz pinpointed in this regard that Syrian opposition to the LAF was often “masked as PSP opposition” Memo, SECSTATE WASHDC to AMCONSUL JERUSALEM IMMEDIATE 9123, August 16, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Strategy for the Immediate Future.”
91 Memo, SECSTATE WASHDC to TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 9428, August 11, 1983, “Strategy for Lebanon,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5664, August 21, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meetings with Shamir and Arens, August 19, 1983,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
92 McFarlane’s colleague, Ambassador Richard Fairbanks, added in this regard that “the administration, the Congress, and the Public had to retain confidence that the Lebanese government would be broadly based, not a Christian, Maronite, or Phalange clique.” Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTAT WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2251, August 13, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meetings in Beirut, August 11 and 12,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also Memo, “Where We Go from Here: Summary of McFarlane To Date,” No date, Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON CABLES, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also Memo, AMEMBASSY AMMAN to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 0227, August 10, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Conversation with King Hussein, August 9,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Files, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also Memo, AMEMBASSY to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2190, August 11, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Clashes Trigger Decisions On Tripartite Coordination, Reconciliation,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON FilesExecutive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
93 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5659, August 20, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Lubrani, August 20, 1983,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5343, August 4, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with Prime Minister Begin, August 4, 1983,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
94 Memo, SECSTATE WASHDC to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT NIACT IMMEDIATE 9544, August 21, 1983, “McFarlane Mission: Possible Roles For the MNF,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also Memo, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: August 3 Meeting with Arens.”
95 Memo, AMEMBASSY JEDDA to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2119, August 8, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meetings with Lebanese Army Commander, August 5,” Box 115, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
96 Ibid.
97 Memo, AMEMBASSY JEDDA to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2132, August 8, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Second Tripartite Political Meeting,” Box 53, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
98 Ibid.
99 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 0000, August 10, 1983, “Renewed Fighting in Shuf: GOL Request for Israeli Assistance,” Box 115, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library. See also Memo, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Clashes Trigger Decisions on Tripartite Coordination.”
100 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2430, August 19, 1983, “Gen. Drori Seeks Redeployment Coordination With LAF,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
101 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 5663, August 21, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: (Conversation with Uri Lubrani), Arrangements for Jumblatt meeting and for redeployment coordination.”
102 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2526, August 23, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meetings with Prime Minister Wazzan, August 22,” Box 116, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
103 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 2545, August 24, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: August 23 Meeting with Minister of Defense Arens Et Al,”
104 Memo, AMEMBASSY PARIS to SECSTATE WASHDC INTACT IMMEDIATE 7592, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Meeting with McFarlane, Jumblatt and Haddad, August 27, 1983.”
105 Ibid.
106 Memo, AMEMBASST BEIRUT to AMEMBASSY PARIS NIACT IMMEDIATE 0218, August 28, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Dillon Meetings with President Gemayel August 27, 1983,” Box 117, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
107 Memo, ROBERT C. MCFARLANE to CHUCK COGAN, CIA, August 30, 1983, “Security Guarantees for Walid Jumblatt and his family,” Box 55, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
108 Memo, AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS to AMCONSUL JERUSALEM FLASH 5822, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Ambassador’s August 30 Meeting with Jumblatt In Damascus,” Box 105, Lebanon Situation, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
109 Memo, USS IWO JIMA to THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC, August 31, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission Dilemma in Lebanon,” Box 117, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
110 Memo, AMEMBASSY BEIRUT to SECSTATE WASH DC 2800, September 5, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Druze Negotiations September 1–3,” Box 118, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
111 Memo, SECSTATE WASHDC to AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 9857, August 29, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Presidential Message to Prime Minister Begin,” Box 117, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
112 Memo, SECSTATE WASHDC to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 9797, September 2, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Reply by Prime Minister Begin to President’s August 29 Message,” Box 117, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
113 Memo, CIA to WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM, September 7, 1983, “Intelligence Support Cable for Wednesday 7,” Box 118, McFarlane Mission Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Cable File, Records 1982–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
114 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6147, September 15, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Fairbanks’ Meetings in Israel, September 15,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
115 Ibid.
116 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6586, October 7, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: Thinking About What’s Net,” Box 44, Lebanon, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Records, Country File, Ronald Reagan Library.
117 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9127, February 4, 1984, “Israel Role In Lebanon,” Box 44, Lebanon, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Records, Country File, Ronald Reagan Library.
118 Memo, AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT NIACT IMMEDIATE, February 4, 1984, “Syrians/NSF Political-Military Campaign: Next Steps in Security Plan,” Box 44, Lebanon, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Records, Country File, Ronald Reagan Library.
119 Memo, AMEMBASSY JEDDA to AMEMBASSY BEIRUT NIACT IMMEDIATE 0314, September 13, 1983, “McFarlane/Fairbanks Mission: McFarlane Meeting with Prince Bandar, September 13,” Box 54, Middle East Trip (McFarlane) CHRON Cables, Executive Secretariat, National Security Council, Subject File, Records 1981–1985, Ronald Reagan Library.
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Hicham Bou Nassif
Hicham Bou Nassif is the Weinberg Associate Professor of International Relations and the Middle East, and a George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College, California. His first book, Endgames, Military Response to Protest in Arab Autocracies, was published by Cambridge University Press (2020).