ISRAEL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH AMAL

Created: 10/29/1987

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

DIRECTORATE OF 1HTEIXICEKCE7 Israel's Relationship uith tul

SUMMARY

VIA

AppWAXl tor Release

Date JUN

Information aa of7 was used Mft Ion. Question; and conaenia eftould be addreased

Southits largely ShiaAnal's Recent leadership struggles within Anal's southernplagued Agal^leader Hablh Barri, however, and Jeopardizes Anal's

power base also is being dlulnlshcd by tho nore ailitant Iranian-backed Hizballah organization. Hizballah's growth In the south, ita affluence, and ita visible anti-Israeli activity are challenging Anal's hold on Shias In the region. Amal risks further erosion of Its credibility in the south if its Israeli contacts become public knowledge. %% ^

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enaeshed In otherwith the Iranian-supported Hizballah and Aaal with thewant to minimize hostilities with each other. Since Israel's withdrawal to tho security zoneblisteringlargely avoided attacking the security zone and has conducted no coordinated, large-scale attacks on Iaraoll forces, although token attacks continue. Correspondingly, laraol'i regular air strikes in Lebanon are targeted against Palestinian or Hizballah poaltlons--not those of Aaal. Horeover, during military sweep operations north of the zone, tho Israelis have avoided engaging Aaal forces, hoping thereby to ilnlalze thepact ofisible

.Israel's recent aoves to strengthen its position, and that

or the South Lebanon Army, inrlame the population and encourage otherwise passive Shia residents to support Hisballah'a attacks. esult, Anal is weakened and prospects for Israel and Amal to coneorkable and permanent security arrangerent In South Lebanon areittttfat I -y

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Original document.

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