Sunday, 13 June witnessed another turning point in the war. At noon, the I.D.F. linked up with the Phalangist forces near the Christian village of Basaba. Gemayel's deputy, Fadi Freim, was there. He was later joined by Bashir and Pierre Gemayel, and by Generals Eitan and Drori. As the dignitaries later traveled to Junyeh, Israeli paratroopers were making their way to Ra'abda. In the early afternoon Defense Minister Sharon traveled from Damour to east Beirut. In the late afternoon, Israeli military vehicles drove into the Christian sections of Beirut, headed by Chief of Staff Eitan, and were ecstatically received by the Christian inhabitants Of Beirut. The I.D.F. had reached for the 1st time in the history of Israel, the heart of an Arab capital. The siege of Beirut started.
The cabinet that morning heard reports and appointed a ministerial committee to negotiate with Ambassador Habib, and through him with the Syrians. Direct talks with the P.L.0. were ruled out completely. The Israeli ideas were the creation of a multinational force to be stationed along a line 45 kilometers north of the Israel Lebanon border. Text:
A) The Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Defense presented reports. Reports were given, i.e., on the military situation in the north, the cease-fire and diplomatic contacts.
Discussion was held on the fundamentals of the arrangements for the political negotiations.
The cabinet appointed a committee of experts consisting of two representatives of the Foreign Ministry and two senior I.D.F. officers. This committee shall submit proposals regarding the future of security arrangements in the north.
The Prime Minister informed the cabinet that this afternoon the ministerial committee that has been appointed for this purpose would meet Ambassador Philip Habib and present to him a basic proposal regarding the arrangements for the future.
B) The cabinet continued with its economic deliberations. Later today the Minister of Finance will announce the resolutions that were adopted.
The economic deliberations will be summed up at a special session that will take place this Tuesday.
C) The cabinet approved the Prime Minister's visit of approximately one week to the United States for the United Nation's special assembly on disarmament and for a meeting with the President of the United States.
The cabinet approved the journey of the Foreign Minister for an official visit to France of approximately three days.