|
Periodic clashes between the guerrillas and the Lebanese Army continued
throughout the late spring, summer, and fall of 1969. In the late summer of
1969, several guerrilla groups moved to new bases, better located for attacks
against Israel. Israel regularly raided these bases in reprisal for guerrilla
raids on its territory. In October the Lebanese Army attacked some guerrilla
camps in order to restrict their activity, an action that led to several
demonstrations in support of the guerrillas.
Syria condemned Lebanese military action against the Palestinians. Nasser,
president of Egypt, invited both parties to Cairo, and an
agreement was negotiated in November 1969 to end the hostilities. On November 2, 1969, the Lebanese commander in chief and Yasir Arafat, the
head of Al Fatah, the leading faction within the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), agreed in Cairo to a cease-fire. The secret Cairo Agreement
set limits on Palestinian guerrilla operations in Lebanon and helped to restore
calm.
|