Word: gemayels
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...Gemayel's statements caused concern in Israel, which has supported the Christian Phalangist forces for years and was particularly close to Bashir Gemayel. Complained one Israeli official: "We felt like saying to him, 'Come off it. Don't exaggerate. Our positions in Lebanon are keeping you alive.' He didn't have to go as far as he did to please the Syrians." Some Western diplomats argued, however, that since Gemayel is dismissed by many Arabs as an Israeli puppet, it was necessary for him to try to reassure his Arab neighbors, particularly the oil-producing...
...Next day Gemayel flew to Washington for a round of meetings with Administration officials. He had breakfast with Reagan at the White House, lunch with Secretary of State George Shultz at the State Department and tea with Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger at the Pentagon. The purpose of the talks, from the Administration's point of view, was to give the young President a sense of confidence in the U.S. commitment to bring about the withdrawal of foreign troops from his country and to help with the rebuilding of Lebanon. Gemayel later described his meeting with Reagan as "excellent...
...specific requests, Gemayel got only vague promises. He asked for large-scale aid in repairing his country's war damage, which has been estimated at $10 billion to $15 billion. Reagan replied that, for the time being, the U.S. would not go beyond the $110 million it has already committed. He said that he thought most of the money should come from other Arab countries (such as Saudi Arabia), Western Europe, the World Bank and private investors, including the many Lebanese who have bank accounts abroad. Last week, as it turned out, a wealthy Lebanese businessman from Sidon gave...
More significant than Gemayel's request for funds was his proposal that the multinational peace-keeping force now serving in Beirut be enlarged so as to provide security throughout the country. The force is currently made up of about 1,200 U.S. Marines, some 1,600 French paratroopers and about 1,200 Italian soldiers. The American Marines are assigned to protect the area around Beirut International Airport. Unlike the French and Italian troops, they have seen little of the city because U.S. authorities have been determined to avoid incidents between the Marines and Lebanese civilians. The U.S. forces have...
...Gemayel emphasized in Washington, as well as during his subsequent talks in Paris and Rome, that the extra peace-keeping forces would be needed until the Lebanese army has been significantly strengthened. In Paris, President François Mitterrand promised to increase the number of French troops in Lebanon. Said an Elysée spokesman...