How the war is seen bj

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Special report from Socialist Organiser's correspondent in Haifa

ST Tally inconceivable thout the Arab working ess having established its ess rule in at least a subential part of the Arab ast, or without the detachent from Zionism of a ction of the Israeli *wish working class. For us therefore, the democratic, secular ite" can be none other an a socialist state, a it of the soviet-socialist derative state of the Arab ist.

Jews We advocate and would ght for the maximum ¿tural and communal ghts for Jews within such state that are compatible ith its existence, though pposing any 'bi-national' : confessional arrangeEVERY democratic slogan could have its barbaric twist.

This week the call by imperialism and the "dovish" Israelis among the Sharon-Begin command not to enter West Beirut received the most barbaric "yes" by the fiercestever bombing of the city, while water, electricity, food and medicines were all shut off at the check points.

While Sharon and his staff were still pushing for total occupation in order to prevent any political negotiations over the Palestinian question, the main call for "tightening the siege" came from the ex'Labour" premier, Rabin, specifically calling for less water supply, as a "humanistic" way to get the people out of the city.

The Peace Now leadership, which organised the 100,000-strong demonstration after the first month of the war has now reasoned that if they struggle against the occupation of the city, then the PLO can refuse to go, leaving Sharon at the end to move into Beirut . . . so they avert any further demonstrations, leaving Sharon a free hand.

As the occupation of south Lebanon i prolonged its terrible face is revealed. The greatest suffering always falls on the Palestinians.

All youth and men that have not been killed are imprisoned, devoid of any legal rights, facing the choice between being beaten to death and 'confessing"

Those who appear in the lists of the Israeli 'ShinBet" as responsible for known attacks do not have even that choice, nor any trial - they are just shot.

The prisoners are taken for interrogation inside Israel, and most of them later return to the concentration camp "Al Antzar" near Nabatiye.

There they are crowded in the hot sun in tiny tents, and usually not allowed to move, even to stand near the tent. Machine guns all around will shoot at any suspicious move, they are told.

The Red Cross was once allowed in, with many TV cameras, but later refused even to come, as it couldn't relieve the inhuman treatment and wouldn't like to cover for it.

An American congressmen who came was also refused entry and an American photographer who gunners came with him was beaten up by the officers. An Israeli soldier tells that, after one guard was wounded by a prisoner, dozens were summarily executed.

The fate of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian women, old folk and children is no better.

Their houses are systematically destroyed. For many this is their fourth exodus, after 1948 when they had to leave their villages, 1967 when they were expelled from the West Bank, and 1970 from Jordan.

From about a quarter of a million Palestinians in the area occupied by Israel, the military governor admit today the existence of 32,000.

Where are the rest? No official would care to say. Stories go that tens of thousands of families lie between the Israeli and Syrian lines, just on the bare ground.

The horrors of occupation have produced further resistance from the Lebanese population. By the second half of July the military authorities began to admit growing guerrilla activity, saying the guerrillas were operating 'in their natural ground, with the sympathy of the population"

An attack in sidon on the military government's headquarters this week was followed by sharp reprisals against the whole city.

Today the Israeli TV reportea ignung within 311. 9.. their occupation area, between Falangist and Druze, and the Israeli army, with mortar fire, and admitted unspecified "casualties on all sides"

The first period of shock and despair has passed and agitation continues all around between the two million Palestinians under Israeli occupation from both 1948 and 1967.

In the West Bank the sharpened oppression is still successfully preventing a mass organisation or prolonged strikes, but the past shooting by the suidiers and their "village leagues" collaborators is not a sign of strength.

Two israeli officials in the West Bank and some of their local gunmen were also killed by guerrilla action.

Just today, in Nazareth, at the centre of the Galilee, the biggest city in the territory occupied in 1948 and the centre of the Communist Party support, a 25,000-strong demonstration against the Israeli aggression took place.

It was the first demonstration in the city for decades, as the police wouldn't allow any to take place. The permission to make this, with the persecuted Palestinian flag at the side of the Israeli flag, show the government is scared.

The "Sons of the Country" movement agitate daily for a general strike of the Arab population. No demonstrations for them, said the police.

In a 1500-strong meeting in Taiba township near Tel Aviv they called 'from Taib to Beirut our people live, won't die" , and, "In our souls and blood, we will liberate Palestine.

In all interviews, most Israeli soldiers just say they would like to go home soon. The military command try to convince them that the shortest way home is through the occupation of Beirut.

The whole operation would be regarded as a failure if it didn't create a stabilised Lebanese government that would prevent further organisation of the Palestinian masses, and will justify American support by securing its objectives The resignation of the armoured division colonel Geva has highlighted the second thoughts arising among the soldiers in the face of the continuing resistance. While the colonel went peacefully back to his lavish home, applauded as a hero by the "doves" soldier who refused to enter the Lebanon was quietly thrown into prison.

This will not prevent others following his example.

Some say the right of conscience should not be confined to senior officers; others just prefer prison to death.

But with the present Israeli military superiority this reaction is still limited.

The most common prayer