Word: gemayels
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...warlords adjourned their meetings in Geneva two weeks ago, they agreed to "freeze" the Israeli-Lebanese troop withdrawal agreement signed last May and instead to focus attention on reshaping the Lebanese political structure, which is now tilted in favor of the Christians. During the recess, President Amin Gemayel is sounding out the U.S. and Arab leaders on how to amend the accord and still satisfy both Israel and Syria. This week he is scheduled to meet with Assad in Damascus. Jerusalem insists it will not pull out its soldiers unless the accord is observed, while Damascus has said that...
...While Gemayel engaged in his delicate tinkering, a 14-member commission in Geneva reached some "tentative conclusions" on constitutional changes. Among the proposals: a parliament with upper and lower houses would replace the single-chamber legislature and be equally divided between Muslims and Christians, instead of the current ratio in favor of the Christians. The posts of President and Prime Minister would continue to go to a Maronite Christian and a Sunni Muslim, respectively, but a vice presidency would be created and be reserved for a Muslim. Although heartened by the results, committee members stressed that these were suggestions that...
...first break on the question of the Israeli-Lebanese treaty came on the third day of the conference when former President Franjieh, after a private meeting with Gemayel and Salam, proposed that the agreement with Israel be "frozen" until the Lebanese leaders had had a chance to work out their other problems. This unexpectedly moderate position astonished and infuriated Syria's Khaddam, whose government wants nothing less than outright rejection of the accord with Israel. Most of the conferees, however, were ready to accept the freeze...
Late in the week, the group voted unanimously that Gemayel should continue his efforts "to end the Israeli occupation" and to ensure "the total and absolute sovereignty of Lebanon over all its territory." The group also agreed to suspend its meetings for ten days, during which time Gemayel was to fly to Washington and several Arab capitals to discuss his country's problems and particularly the treaty with Israel. The vote was taken following a private meeting between Gemayel and opposition leaders, after which the President persuaded his father and Chamoun, the most ardent advocates of the accord with...
President Gemayel's visit to Washington will create a dilemma for the Reagan Administration. Having sponsored the Israeli-Lebanese withdrawal agreement, the U.S. is committed to it. At a time when it is hoping that Israel will agree to take a more active role in the region, the U.S. will find it difficult to weaken its support for an agreement the Israelis consider important. Yet the U.S. also believes that national reconciliation is the only road to stability for Lebanon, and may have to make a gesture of support for the only result so far of the Geneva conference...