Under Siege: P.L.O. Decisionmaking During the 1982 War

It is rare that a historian has the opportunity to observe the events he later chronicles. It is perhaps rarer still that an account by a contemporary observer merits the title of history. I make no such claim for this work; but I did witness the events of the summer of 1982 in besieged West Beirut, and this gives it a special and, I hope, a valuable perspective.

The writing of this book was made possible by the kindness of many individuals and institutions: those who afforded me access to the documentary material on which it is primarily based; those who gave generously of their time and of their sometimes painful recollections in the interviews listed in the bibliography; and those whose financial support was indispensable throughout.

It is unusual that sensitive diplomatic correspondence of such recent origin is opened to the researcher, particularly without any conditions or limitations being imposed in the process. Permission to utilize the P.L.O. Archives for the first time was generously given by the Chairman of the P.L.O. Executive Committee, Yasser ‘Arafat. To him, and to the dedicated individuals working in the Office of the Chairman, the P.L.O. Archives, and the Palestine News Agency (WAFA), who extended every possible assistance to me on three trips to Tunis, I owe deep thanks.

Among those interviewed, it is necessary to record in particular my debt to those unable to be cited by name, but who nevertheless contributed detailed on-the-record accounts of their experiences. I must also thank the many individuals: American, Israeli, French, Palestinian and Lebanese; diplomats, politicians, journalists and scholars; friends, colleagues, and co-workers, who were kind enough to discuss key aspects of this subject with me or provided important data, but whose names cannot be mentioned.

The initial work on this book was done during the 198283 academic year at the American University of Beirut, whose courageous President, the late Malcolm Kerr, strongly encouraged me in my work and provided help in difficult circumstances. My colleagues in the Political Studies and Public Administration Department, particularly its Chairman, Professor Adnan Iskandar, and the Acting Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Professor Landry Slade, were supportive throughout, and kindly allowed me the leave of absence for the two academic years during which this volume was completed.

During that period, generous support was extended by the Ford Foundation, Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, where I spent a stimulating year, the American Middle East Peace Research Institute, and the Institute for Palestine Studies. I owe a debt of thanks to all of these institutions and their officers and employees, in particular to Dr. Ann Lesch, who was instrumental in securing the initial funding for this project.

The idea for writing this book came during the war from my friend and colleague, Sami Musallam, who later gave me much valuable assistance. Many other people who lived through that terrible summer in Beirut helped me with the reconstruction of events or by providing their expertise on specific points. Among them were Ramzi Khouri, Sami‘al-Banna, ‘Abd al-Hadi Khalaf, Muhammad ‘Ali al-Khalidi, Camille Mansour, Noha Tadros, my brother Raja and my wife Muna. All provided valuable insights, which in some cases greatly improved the manuscript.

Others read all or part of the manuscript, providing much helpful advice. In particular, I would like to thank Professor Michael Hudson and Joe Stork, whose many observations were much appreciated. Yazid Sayigh, Julie Peteet, ‘Imad al-Hajj, and Ahmed al-Khalidi also provided useful comments.

It remains for me to thank those who helped this book along in various stages of its production, including Miss Muna Nsouli and the librarians at the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut and Georgetown University’s Lauinger Memorial Library; the staff of Columbia University Press, particularly, Kate Wittenberg, Assistant Executive Editor, and the talented Leslie Bialler, Manuscript Editor; my mother, for her essential moral support; and finally Professor Edward Said and Professor Tarif Khalidi, both of whom, as always, provided invaluable advice and help.

None of those mentioned by name, or who contributed in any way to this book, bear any share of responsibility for its shortcomings or errors: they are my own. However, much of the credit for any merits it may have belongs to them.

In conclusion, I and many others owe the greatest debt of gratitude to those who gave their lives during the summer of 1982 in order that others might live, and in defense of the cause of Palestine and the independence of Lebanon. To those who died; to those in Beirut and South Lebanon who survived to face an uncertain future; and to those dispersed by the war, I dedicate this book.