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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JUNE 10, 1983
PAGE 10
mantic socialism of the last few years. In the Falklands and in
her economic program, Mrs. Thatcher has demonstrated her grasp of
reality--not least that this is not a risk-free world.... As a
result, the British electorate has demonstrated its willingness
to "risk" another five years of Margaret Thatcher.
Perhaps the biggest danger Mrs. Thatcher faces now is overconfidence. With
such a large parliamentary margin it is easy to overlook the fact that Mrs.
Thatcher's percentage vote actually slipped a bit from the 1979 election
(43.9% to 43.5% this time} and that her victory was due in no small measure
to her divided opposition. The Labor Party had become discredited in the
eyes of the public because it was split within itself while veering sharply
leftward. The Social Democrats and Liberals, fielding a 'common slate of
candidates, made a good showing. Unfortunately for them, their candidates
came in second in many instances to either the Tory or the Labor winner. In
Britain's "winner-take-all" system, second place earns nothing.
Israel: Bogged Down in Lebanon, Divided at Home
It has been a year now since Israeli forces drove into Lebanon in an attempt
to cripple PLO forces once and for all. The operation was intended, as are
most wars, to be quick. But one year later, after the deaths of 500 Israeli
military personnel and an additional 3,000 wounded, Israeli troops are
still positioned over a large part of Lebanon. Worse yet, the Israeli army
in Lebanon now looks more like an army of occupation--with the additional
unthought of and thankless task of keeping warring Lebanese factions apart.
Moreover, it is a costly and morale-sapping operation, perhaps expressed
best in a headline in the June 12 LOS ANGELES TIMES--"Israel is Stuck arid
Can't Get Out."
With Syrian troops, backed up by PLO remnants entrenched in Lebanon, the
prospects for "bringing our sons home"--which Prime Minister Begin pro
claimed in a recent emotional speech was still his intent--seems remote.
The fact is, Israel is bogged down in Lebanon, and the country is more
divided over the aftermath of this war than any other conflict in Israel's
35-year history. Here is a special report submitted to the June 7, 1983
WALL STREET JOURNAL by journalist Yoram Kessel:
JERUSALEM--A fervent prayer of Jews around the world has been
beshana haba's beyerushalayim, "next year in Jerusalem." Amos
Eilon, an Israeli writer and columnist, has changed the phrase to
"next year in Lebanon" in a caustic reference to Israel's in
volvement in Lebanon •...
What began as a limited Israeli effort to destroy Palestine
Liberation Organization forces in Lebanon that threatened
northern Israel has dragged on with little prospect that the
soldiers will come home soon. � wave of disgruntlement over that
prospect has shown itself in widespread criticism of the Lebanon
policy of Prime Minister Menachem Begin's government.
Mr. Begin's aides denounce the "orgy of published and broadcast
evaluations of the war" and say they are "harmful to Israel's in
terests." Says one: "The Syrians are contemplating with delight
the way� eat ourselves .!:!P· Why should they budgerrom their
obduracy when they can read about this discord and dissension
within Israel?"...