Collapse of Lebanese Left

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Tear gas, büllets, bludgeons - Poland's 'socialist' cops IN LEBANON itself, the new 'reality' ushered in by the Zionist invasion has produced a spectacular political collapse of the Lebanese left.

The country's new President, Bashir Gemayel, leader of the fascist Phalange, has been allowed to take office, while the government has announced a ban on carrying weapons, wearing military uniforms, manning roadblocks, firing Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, to prepare for 'full autonomy' in these areas.

• A five year transition period in which the Palestinians would take over control, leading up to a 'final status'. of 'self-government by the Palestinians in association with Jordan' • Israeli withdrawal from shots, staging unauthorised demonstrations and even writing on walls.

So far it is the left wing militias which have fallen into line with these requirements while Gemąyel's gang mates in the right wing militias continue to roam freely with arms through Zionist-occupied East Beirut.

And the two leaders of the main Muslim left wing militias, Ibrahim Koleilat these occupied territories in accordance with UN Resolution 242, adopted after the 1967 war.

• The status of Jerusalem to be opened up for 'negotiations'.

But in return for these concessions, Reagan's plan offers the Zionists the lure of:

• Peace treaties with the [Sunni] and Shi'ite Nabeih Berri, have not announced any boycott of Gemayel's government.

Were they to do so, he could find it hard to implement his constitutional requirement to appoint Muslims as Prime Minister and as Leader of the Chamber of Deputies.

But a more defiant position has come from the north of Lebanon, where an unlikely alliance of the Arab states and recognition of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, • An explicit 'ironclad' guarantee of Israel's security.

As a gesture to create confidence, Reagan suggested an immediate freeze "on Zionist settlements in the West Bank.

The immediate response affected by demonstrations of this sort.

For the workers, the motivation of the protests was clear. They were fighting for the freedom that they began to win with Solidarnosc, and for their economic interests. Under the ruinous rule of the bureaucracy, real incomes in Poland have dropped 25% since the beginning of this year.

Despite the workers' slogans about the Pope, the Church opposed the protests. Archbishop Glemp's comment was that there is 'no point throwing stones' But the bureaucracy is trying to find a scapegoat. Four leaders of the KOR (Workers' Defence Committee), including Adam Michnik and Jacek Kuron, Sunni Muslim leader Rashid Karami and the former Maronite president Franjieh has declared its total boycott of Gemayel's regime, and proclaimed Tripoli and the north a 'liberated area'.

Gemayel can be expected to play for a while upon the weaknesses of the left wing forces in Beirut in order to consolidate his position. It is for this reason that he has kept his sponsors - the from the Begin government was complete rejection of the scheme, amid consternation that Reagan had apparently moved to outflank the Zionists with his proposals.

Begin protested that Israel had not been consulted beforehand, claimed a catalogue of aggressive acts by Jordan against have been arrested and charged with plotting to overthrow the regime by force. How they did this plotting when they were already interned, is not explained.

The Polish government has also declared that it will not negotiate with the leaders of Solidarnosc. Gone, at least for the moment, is the vague talk of reconciliation. The August 31 protests have evidently convinced the bureaucrats that the Polish workers can no more be reconciled than a tiger. can be tamed, and lirect repression is the answer.

Further arrests victimisations must be on the way. Our solidarity will be needed. Zionist state, who have armed and financed hig fascist militia - politically at arm's length since achieving the presidency.

No doubt he explained this to them in a secret meeting with Israeli government spokesmen last week.

But with both Reagan and Gemayel posing as apostles of 'peace' and concord, the working masses of Lebanon have plenty to worry about.

Israel, and rejected any concessions on the West Bank or Gaza.

'Judea and Samaria" he proclaimed, "will never again be the West Bank of the Kingdom of Jordan created by British colonialism"

Proof of the determination of the Zionist government was offered in the