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VOLUME 8: 1982-1984
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53. Interview with Defense Minister Sharon on Israel radio, 6 August 1982.
Interviewed in Beirut, a day after the Cabinet rejected Security Council resolution 517, Mr. Sharon explained the meaning of the resolution and said clearly that Israel was willing to risk a confrontation with the U.S. in order to achieve its vital goals. Text:
Mr. Sharon: The meaning of yesterday's Cabinet resolutions are, one, that the Government firmly upholds its opinion that no terrorists are to remain in west Beirut, while we continue, as before, to allow for the possibility of fully exploiting the diplomatic process. But we stand firmly by our opinion that no terrorist may remain. It is impossible to leave any terrorists in west Beirut, if we do not want a terrorist infrastructure to be set up anew in Lebanon. This is one aspect of the Cabinet decision. The second part of the Cabinet decision clearly speaks of, and there is a definite stance in the government concerning this matter, which says that our forces will not be exposed to violations of the cease-fire by the terrorists, or by terrorists and Syrians, on other fronts. The third point is that we see in the stationing of U.N. observers in Beirut the actual creation of a defensive wall around the terrorists, which would enable them to pursue their activities. This is unacceptable to the government of Israel.
Q: It seems that if we resort to some sort of military action, a serious confrontation with the Americans, maybe even an embargo, could ensue. Can we afford this?
A: We are a well experienced people when it comes to confrontations. People forget that we were under total American embargo from 1948 until 1965. And we do not rejoice at the prospect of a confrontation. But we will not be deterred by a confrontation when the issue at stake is the achievement of our aims and vital goals such as security and peace.
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