Changes

== Operation Peace of the Galilee ==

== Operation Peace of the Galilee ==

In the summer of 1981, Israel became alarmed that the PLO appeared to be gaining an advantage over the SLA when the former organization crossed the Litani River in [[brigade]] strength and established themselves in the villages of [[Qana]], Dir Amas, and Juya.  Accordingly, they launched [[air raids]] against these and other Palestinian targets in Lebanon.  The Palestinians were now close enough to fire long-range [[artillery]] including [[rockets]] into northern Israel, which they did in response to these strikes.  Two weeks later American envoy [[Philip Habib]] negotiated a cease-fire, but the Israelis began joint patrols with the SLA, resulting over the next eleven months in the deaths of 27 Israel soldiers.  Israel retaliated for only one of these deaths, an officer killed by a [[land mine]] on April 21, 1982, with an air raid on the coastal Lebanese town of Damour, which killed 23 people.

In the summer of 1981, Israel became alarmed that the PLO appeared to be gaining an advantage over the SLA when the former organization crossed the Litani River in [[brigade]] strength and established themselves in the villages of [[Qana]], Dir Amas, and Juya.  Accordingly, Israel launched [[air raids]] against these and other Palestinian targets in Lebanon.  The Palestinians were now close enough to fire long-range [[artillery]] including [[rockets]] into northern Israel, which they did in response to these strikes.  Two weeks later American envoy [[Philip Habib]] negotiated a cease-fire, but the Israelis began joint patrols with the SLA, resulting over the next eleven months in the deaths of 27 Israel soldiers.  Israel retaliated for only one of these deaths, an officer killed by a [[land mine]] on April 21, 1982, with an air raid on the coastal Lebanese town of Damour, which killed 23 people.

On June 3, 1982, [[Shlomo Argov]], Israeli ambassador to the [[United Kingdom]], was shot and permanently paralyzed by terrorists from the [[Abu Nidal organization]].  Since Abu Nidal was at that time part of [[Fatah]], the leading faction within the PLO, the Israeli [[cabinet]] decided to mount a full invasion and clean out all centers of Palestinian resistance within 25 miles of the Lebanese-Israeli border.  The IDF began softening up the Palestinians the next day with air raids as far north as the capital, [[Beirut]] (halfway up the Lebanese coast).  [[Refugee]] camps were treated as military targets because it was common knowledge that gunmen were always present there.  [[Syria]], which at that time occupied most of Lebanon not held by the PLO, SLA, or Maronite [[Phalangists]], contested the air campaign and came under attack in turn, with the loss of all but 10 of the aircraft which engaged Israel's air force, and some dozens of [[armored personnel carriers]] and [[tanks]].  The PLO retaliated by renewing its attack with artillery and [[mortars]] upon northern Israel; this time, two civilians were killed and six wounded.

On June 3, 1982, [[Shlomo Argov]], Israeli ambassador to the [[United Kingdom]], was shot and permanently paralyzed by terrorists from the [[Abu Nidal organization]].  Since Abu Nidal was at that time part of [[Fatah]], the leading faction within the PLO, the Israeli [[cabinet]] decided to mount a full invasion and clean out all centers of Palestinian resistance within 25 miles of the Lebanese-Israeli border.  The IDF began softening up the Palestinians the next day with air raids as far north as the capital, [[Beirut]] (halfway up the Lebanese coast).  [[Refugee]] camps were treated as military targets because it was common knowledge that gunmen were always present there.  [[Syria]], which at that time occupied most of Lebanon not held by the PLO, SLA, or Maronite [[Phalangists]], contested the air campaign and came under attack in turn, with the loss of all but 10 of the aircraft which engaged Israel's air force, and some dozens of [[armored personnel carriers]] and [[tanks]].  The PLO retaliated by renewing its attack with artillery and [[mortars]] upon northern Israel; this time, two civilians were killed and six wounded.