Lebanon: 1) Palestinians in Khiam in 1977; 2) Abdallah family in Khiam; 3) Did the Abdallah family collaborate with the Israelis?

1)       Throughout 1977, the town of Khiam was the scene of heavy fighting between Christian, Muslim, and Palestinian forces. Khiam is a predominantly Shi'ite village, [ Arab League, 9 June 1989.] a little over five miles from the Israeli border, in a region of south Lebanon affected by internecine conflict among Lebanese Christians (who became the South Lebanon Army - SLA in 1982), Muslims, Palestinians, and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). On 24 January 1977, Lebanese Christian militia forces attacked Lebanese Muslim and Palestinian positions near Khiam, but did not take the town. [ New York Times, 25 January 1977, 5:1.] Arab peacekeeping forces were subsequently sent to Khiam to try to maintain order, [ New York Times, 27 January 1977, 8:5.] but left a short time later. Fighting between Christians and Muslims continued in south Lebanon throughout February 1977, and on 20 February, the New York Times reported that the town of "Al Khyam" was overrun by the Christians. [ New York Times, 20 February 1977, 7:1, 23 February 1977, 3:2.] Two months later, on 7 April, Palestinian and Muslim forces recaptured the town of Khiam. [Henry Tanner, "Palestinians and Lebanese Leftists Recapture Moslem Town in South", New York Times, 8 April 1977, (attached).] Shortly thereafter, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Yigal Allon, announced that Israel "would neither bear nor tolerate attacks on villages that are so very close to [its] border and which we consider friendly to Israel." [ "Israeli Cautions PLO on Lebanon", New York Times, 13 April 1977.]

Heavy fighting in June resulted in an exodus of the Muslim population from south Lebanon, causing great concern among Shi'ite leaders in the region, who formed the National Commission for Preserving South Lebanon. [ New York Times, 1 July 1977, 2:5.] An unconditional ceasefire between the Christians and the Palestinians was arranged in the third week of July, [ New York Times, 22 July 1977, 6:1.] but the truce did not hold, and in September, the Israelis crossed the border to take up positions around Khiam to provide support to Lebanese Christian forces. [Marvine Howe, "Lebanon Says Israel Occupies 6 Key Hills", New York Times, 22 September 1977 (attached).] In the following days, the heaviest fighting over the town of Khiam took place, with sustained artillery fire until the eve of the 26 September 1977 ceasefire. "Casualties during the 10-day attack on Khiam were 15 Palestinian-Lebanese soldiers killed and 30 civilians wounded." [ Marvine Howe, "Cease-fire Stirs Hope in South Lebanon, but the Foes Remain on Alert", New York Times, 28 September 1977.] In the September clashes, it is estimated that 200 Palestinian-leftist soldiers participated. [ Ibid.]

The South Lebanon Army (SLA) is one of four militias with "effective" control of the southern region of Lebanon. [ Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 1988, p. 245.] The SLA operates in the southern security corridor, an eighty by twenty kilometre strip of land along the Israeli border. It is a predominantly Christian militia supported by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), but recruitment of Shi'a and Druze civilians found within the SLA territory was reported during the eighties, in an apparent effort to broaden the communal base of the militia. [Henry Degenhardt, ed, Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, (Essex: Longman, 1988), p. 213.] The Amnesty International Urgent Action Fear of Torture/ Legal Concern (AI Index: MDE 18/02/87, 23 July 1987) mentions Shi'a and Druze recruits, but does not discuss the method of recruitment. The main detention centre of the South Lebanon Army (SLA) is located in Khiam. Amnesty International reports that "hundreds of people, mainly Lebanese Shi'a Muslims... have been arrested and detained without charge or trial." [ Amnesty International, Fear of Torture/ Legal Concern, Ai Index: MDE 18/02/87, 23 July 1987.] According to Amnesty International, as many as 200 detainees are held at any one time at the SLA's main detention facility at Khiam. [ Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 1988, (London: Amnesty International Publications, 1988), p.246.] Please see the attached Amnesty International documents for descriptions of the physical ill-treatment of detainees at this facility.

2)             According to the Arab League, the Abdallah family is a large family in South Lebanon. In 1972/73 elections, a member of the Abdallah family from the Khiam region was elected as a deputy to the Lebanese Parliament. He was affiliated with conservative political elements. In 1977, the town of Khiam had approximately 25,000 people. [ "Ceasefire Stirs Hope in South Lebanon, but the Foes Remain on Alert", New York Times, 28 September 1977.] The IRBDC is presently unable to confirm the size of the Abdallah family in Khiam. Please see the attached "Who's Who in Lebanon".

3)             In the late 1970s, leftist (communist) influences were strong in south Lebanon. By 1982, with the Israeli intervention, Islamic Fundamentalism was on the rise, and there were clashes between Fundamentalists and communists. [ Arab League.] Many politicized Muslims left the region with the Israeli occupation. The IRBDC does not presently have information on collaboration between members of the Abdallah family and Israeli Defence Forces. However, according to the Arab League, it is probable that many of the people who remained in their villages would have been either politically neutral or tolerant toward the Israeli forces, as many members of Lebanese opposition groups (such as Amal or Hezbollah) fled the region.

Attached:

New York Times, 8 April, 13 April, 22 September, 23 September, 24 September, 28 September 1977.

Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 1988, (London: Amnesty International Publications, 1988), and Report 1987, and Fear of Torture/Legal Concern.

Who's Who in Lebanon, 1982-1983, Beirut: Publitec Publications.