Word: fatahland
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
SOUTHERN LEBANON was known as "Fatahland" not so long ago, but villages which once teemed with Palestinian fedayeen now welcome the Syrian occupation which has at least momentarily crippled the Palestinian guerrilla movement. As Syrian President Hafez Assad dictates terms to Fatah leader Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian military and political assertiveness of April 1975, which touched off civil war in Lebanon, seems far away. Arafat's enforced meekness is even further removed from 1974, when he stood before the United Nations General Assembly, riding the crest of Third World acclaim and proclaiming the ascendancy of the Palestinian liberation movement...
...Palestinians also suffered losses on the battlefield as well as on the diplomatic front. In southern Lebanon shortly before the latest ceasefire, Christian forces attacked Moslem towns in the border area long known as "Fatahland." Israel, which has already given small arms (TIME, Aug. 2) and even tanks-38 U.S.-built Shermans and 33 captured Soviet T-54s-to the Christians, moved several steps further last week. Israeli helicopters flew ammunition to Christians attacking the town of Marjayoun and ferried out casualties to Israeli hospitals. Israeli paratroops took up crossroads positions around Marjayoun-in sight of Israel-to block...
...Jerusalem has gained what amounts to de facto control over a strip of territory in southern Lebanon, reaching up to the Litani River. Only a few months ago, this strip was so dominated by Palestinian guerrillas that it was known as Fatahland. In addition, the Israelis are trying to arm and train Lebanese villagers in the area to guard against a renewal of Palestinian power. Indeed, that paid off just last week, when four terrorists tried to enter the Christian village of Ayn Ibil near the Israel-Lebanon border. Lebanese residents of the town killed all four...
Since the civil war began in Lebanon 15 months ago, Israel's northern border has been quiet-and Jerusalem intends to keep it that way. The Palestinian guerrillas who once launched sporadic terrorist attacks on Israel border settlements have left "Fatahland" to fight against Christians and Syrians in the north. In effect, the southern half of Lebanon has been left without any government, and its 360,000 Moslem, Christian and Druze inhabitants-mostly poor and scrambling farmers-have been abandoned to fend for themselves. Israel is moving determinedly into the vacuum. TIME Jerusalem Bureau Chief Donald Neff last week...
Access to Israel. Scores of villagers show up daily at the electronically wired fence that was originally constructed along the border by Israel to keep out guerrillas. Every few miles along the fence there are gates, originally built to allow access for Israeli soldiers raiding P.L.O. bases in Fatahland. Now the gates are open to Lebanese seeking food, work and medical care in Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres calls it the "good fence policy...