This chapter explores the origins and complexities of the Lebanese Civil War, examining the interplay of various factions, including PLO, leftist and right-wing groups. It highlights the intricate socio-political dynamics, particularly the power imbalances favoring the Maronites, and how the war's ideological struggles were shaped by both local and broader geopolitical influences. The discussion emphasizes the challenges in analyzing the conflict while revealing the nuanced relationships between Palestinian groups, Syrian forces, and external powers.
Featuring Abdel Razzaq Takriti, this is the SIXTEENTH and final episode of Thawra (Revolution), our series on Arab radicalism in the 20th century. Today’s installment traces a massive defeat for the Palestinian Revolution: Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon and brutal siege of Beirut. Under severe pressure and isolated in the wake of Egypt’s normalization with Israel, the PLO evacuated its headquarters. What followed was a giant massacre of Palestinian civilians and the end of the decades-long era of Arab revolutionary politics to which this series has been dedicated. A substantial epilogue is coming soon.
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