MONTHLY REPORT--TEL AVIV BUREAU--JULY 1982

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000100160004-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 1, 2008
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 6, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

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MTA-2021
6 August 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH: Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT: Monthly Report -- Tel Aviv Bureau -- July 1982
July was another exceptionally busy month for Tel Aviv Bureau,
_ with just under 450,000 words filed. The Israeli'Defense Forces
continued their siege of Beirut while frantic diplomatic activity
continued in an effort to find a peaceful removal of the trapped PLO
fighters from Beirut. Despite numerous cease-fires, heavy fighting
frequently erupted, often accompanied by Israeli air bombardments.
To provide additional coverage during this period, the bureau
opened one hour earlier and closed two hours later than normal for
most of the month. This further enhanced the bureau's reputation as
the spot where weary political officers could get the latest news
virtually anytime day or night.
II. OPERATIONS
A. Monitorial/Editorial
HEBREW SECTION
The major focus of attention throughout the month was of course the
political efforts to solve the Lebanese problem and the closely related
efforts to maintain a cease-fire. As the month drew to a close the
eighth cease-fire had come into effect. Although there were scattered
artillery duels throughout the month, sometimes quite heavy, the
heaviest fighting came at the end of the month.. On the 21st, terrorists
who infiltrated from a Syrian-controlled area attacked and killed five
IDF soldiers in Lebanon. The IDF reacted with heavy air and artillery
attacks all along the cease-fire line on 22 July and then bombed Beirut
targets on 7 of the next 8 days. ,
Probably the most noteworthy military clash occurred on 24 July
when Israeli planes attacked and destroyed three SAM-8 missile batteries
in A1-Biqa'. This was the first time SAM-8 missiles had been used in
Lebanon. There was some speculation in the Israeli media that the
weapons may have been manned by Soviet soldiers, but Israeli defense
authorities said they had no evidence to support this. The use of the
SAM-8's came after an unidentified Syrian officer had said over
Damascus radio that the Syrians might use weapons "not yet used."
Ma'ariv on 25 July, citing "IDF sources", said the Syrians had been warned
not to introduce new weapons into the conflict.
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Phantom on patrol in the area was shot down by a SAM-6 missile. There
were conflicting reports as to wHether the missile was fired from
just beyond the Syrian border or`from the Lebanese side. Prime
Minister Begin on 30 July warned the Syrians not to fire missiles
from within their territory and said Israeli planes would attack the
missile :sites if the Syrians did so. '
One interesting sidelight of the military aspect of the Peace
for Galilee campaign was the 4 July shootout in Sidon with two
trapped PLO commanders. One of those killed, A'zami Sughayyir, was
believed to have helped plan the 1978 coastal road attack on an
Israeli bus which was the immediate inpetus for the Litani campaign.
As busy as things were on the military front, they were no less
so on the political front. Throughout the month special envoy Philip
Habib continued his efforts, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Morris
Draper also visited the area. Israeli leaders frequently alluded to
timetables in an apparent attempt to supplement their military
pressure with verbal and political pressure. The reports were
somewhat contradictory. One report on 1 July spoke of Habib having
been given a "grace period," and, while Prime Minister Begin on 6 July
was reportedly "optimistic" about a political settlement, already on
the 7th there were reports Habib had only to the 11th to find a
solution. By thh 12th Sharon was saying that Habib's time was "slowly
running out " while Begin seemed to reject this in saying on the 14th
that he was willing to give the United States "all the time it needs"
to reach a settlement. By the-18th Begin was saying that the Lebanese
campaign had not yet ended and the following day. he said the "state
of war" would end in "2-3 weeks," and so it went throughout the month.
On 6 July Israeli. radio and THE JERUSALEM POST carried rather
detailed reports on a U.S.-French plan to use U.S. Marines in
Beirut in connection with a PLO evacuation. Begin on 8 July reacted
sharply to this leak, saying it "did great damage and put the U.S.
President, who had not yet informed Congress about the proposal, in a
very awkward position."
Another storm arose over the meeting on 3 July between Israeli
journalist Uri Avneri and Yasir 'Arafat in Beirut. 'Arafat told Avneri
that the PLO had recognized Israel's right to exist three times and
Avneri's paper, HA'OLAM HAZE;:o~i 7 July carried the interview in full.
Several politicians called for action against Avneri and the police
were instructed to look into the situation. The issue of recognition
again arose later in the month when Senator McCloskey met with 'Arafat.
While various reports said 'Arafat had or had not recognized Israel's
right to exist, Jerusalem sources on 25 July dismissed it as a
"propaganda ploy."
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In addition to the major story of the Lebanese fighting and
political moves, several related items and domestic stories emerged.
Among those issues directly related to the Lebanese campaign were Israeli
media and leader cgmments on Secretary of State George Shultz's
Senate confirmation hearings and how they might affect the negotiations.
the cluster bomb issue, the strain in Israeli-Egyptian and..'.' -
Israeli-French relations created as a result of the Lebanese
operation, the status of PLO prisoners and Major Haddad's future role
in Lebanon. On the domestic front, there were several antiwar
demonstrations in Jerusalem and Nazareth and a large one in Tel Aviv
reportedly attended by about 80,000 people. There was also a huge
pro-government rally in Tel Aviv which drew an estimated 250,000.
The 6-month old Druze strike was settled in July, and, despite some
disturbances, the West Bank was relatively quiet. The Gaza mayor and
Dayr'Dibwan Municipal Council were dismissed for failing to
cooperate with the civilian ad~iti~:straton. Rumors emerged on 9 July
of strained relations between Begin and Sharon but Begin immediately
denied the report. On the 12th there was a report that Sharon's
stature in the Cabinet was declining.
TURKISH SECTION
One of the key architects of Turkish economic policy, State Minister
and Deputy Prime Minister Turgut Ozal resigned on 14 July along with
Finance Minister Erdem and Housing Minister Tuten.. While no immediate
reason was given for Ozal's resignation, it~was widely speculated
to have been in connection with one of Turkey's huge brokerage firms
going bankrupt. Adnan Basar Kafaoglu, Ozal's successor, pledged
in his first news conference on 29 July to continue the essence of the
previous economic program.
The long awaited draft constitution was submitted to the
Consultative Assembly chairmanship on 17 July by the constitution
committee chairman. The key feature of the draft is an increase in
the authorities of the Office of President. The 200-article
draft Lo .rep lace the .1961 constitution will be debated by the
Consultative Assembly, approved by the National Security Council, and
later submitted to a nationwide referendum for approval. ,
On the international front, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
spokesman on 27 July sharply criticized`a nonbinding U.S. Congress
decision'envisaging the withdrawal of the "Turkish peace forces"
from Cyprus' and the appointment of a special representative by
President Reagan to help solve the problem. The spokesman said this
decision was received with regret, would have a "very negative effect"
on Turkish public opinion and would "seriously weaken" the solidarity
of the Western alliance.
B. Lateral Services
The bureau prepared special packages of material during the month
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for special U.S. envoy Philip Habib and for Deputy Assistant Secretary
Morris Draper on separate visits they made to Jerusalem. On 21 July
the embassy economic section also asked the bureau for liberal filing
of material relating to-the financing of the war effort to help them
in their reporting. The bureau was in almost constant contact with key
embassy personnel throughout the month, alerting them to breaking issues:
There were several requests for the bureau to alerf high-level
consumers at home even during official receptions and at odd hours.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
The bureau's FSN's received a cost-of-living pay raise of
approximately 16 percent effective 1 July.
De ut Bureau Chief land Cruising " "~~
Officer eparted Tel Aviv on PCS assignments on STAT
11 July. Their replacements are expected in early August.
Edito rrived on TDY on STAT
approximate y weecs to fill the gap betwee STAT
departure an arrival. ~ STAT
STAT
ie , e viv ureau
Attachment: Production Report
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TEL AVIV BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR JULY 1982 ATTACHMENT A
I . TOTALS F}20`t ALL SOURCES
TOTAL PUBLIShiABLE t,'ORDAGE FILET) P,URI\G rtONTH 397,400
TOTAL NON-PU131.LS}iABL L? IdORDAGE FILED DURING `tONT}i 52,200
TOTAL NU?tBER .OF }'L'Bi_ISH_AB1,1~ ?TE:`1S FILED D1JfxING i10NTH: 1,300
BROADCASTS PRESS ?i?Bi,I:CATIO~S
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 6,543 10,590 51
(minutes or issues per week) min. min. issues
III. OUTPUT FROP7 ALL SOURCES:
(publishable words per month)
CLANDESTINE
(Clandestine) National Voice of Iran in
Persian to Iran 1,000
(Clandestine) ~~'oice o:` I?-aniar, Korcestan in
Persian to Tr~n 0
(Cl~ndescine) ~2?~ra~: ~acic i^
Eng'_ish to C~~or;:s 1,300
(Clandestine) Bayrak Racic in
Turkish to C~~arus 2,500
(Clandestine) Our Rsdic in
Turkish tc Tur!:e~' 2,500
(Clandestine) Voice of Turkish Communist Part~~ in 5,000
Turkish to Europe anc Turke_~
ISRAEL
Jerusalem Domestic Ser??:ice ~.n
English
Jerusalem Domestic Sen~i.ce i.^.
Hebrew
Jerusalem Domestic Television: Service in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv IDF Radio in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv ITIM in
Hebrew
Jerusalem GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE i,l
English
11,200
113,600
35,800
39,100
AGENCIES
15,900
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BROADCASTS PRESS PUBLICATIONS
AGENCIES
ISRAEL (cont'd)
Jerusalem POST IN
English
Tel Aviv 'AL HAMISHMAR in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv DAVAR in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv HA'ARETZ in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv HA'OLAM HAZE in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv HATZOFE in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv MA'ARIV in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv YEDI'OT AH.ARONOT in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv BEMAHANE in
Hebrew
Tel Aviv YOMAN HASH.4VL'' A in
Hebrew
LEBANON
Marj 'Uyun Lebanon Voice of Hope in
English
TURKEY
Ankara Domestic Service in
Turkish
Ankara ANATOLIA in
Turkish
Ankara ANATOLIA in
English
Ankara ANATOLIA in
Franrh
UNITED KINGDOM
London BBC World Service in
English
USSR
Moscow in
Dari to Afghanistan
Moscow Radio Peace and Progress in
Hebrew to Israel
1,6, 200
500
12,000
200
o"
1,500
38,800
5,000
13,100
24,900
6,700
1,500
35,800
8,600
2,500
1,900
STAT
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TEL AL'IV BU REAL` MONTHLY C02?L*1U:7ICATIONS REPORT FOR JULY 198 2 ATTACHMENT B
i . TOTAL ?UBLIS}i.4BLE ',,'ORDAGE r ILED t2AS 397, 400 (575,100 )
TOTAL XONPUBLIS;iABLE i,~ORDAGE FILED WAS 52,200 ( 77,000)
DAILT iJORDAC;E Fi.LED AVER4GED 14, 503 (21, 725 )
,;LGHEST DAII_`,' t?~0 D:',.~:.. ; i.L~D t~AS 26,370 ON 2 July
LOt,'ES: ~.-,_i_:' .:0?,~~.=. C:~= =?.:.~:` ??.S 4,890 ON 24 July
2. OUTAGES ON OUTGOING S7:YMU:{ CIRCUIT TOTALED 2.0 HOURS,0.4 PERCENT.
OUTAGES ON INCOh?ING SKYi`lUX CIRCUIT TOTALED 2.0 HOURS,0.4 PERCENT.
EXTENDED OUTAGES: NONE
3. MESSAGES RECEIVED VIA THE SKYPIUX CIRCUIT FOR THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
TEL AVIV TOTALED 1,9$2, OF WHICH 1,853 CARRIED THE BUREAU AS AN
ADDRESSEE.
4. WORDS FILED VIA TELEX DURING OUTAGES OF THE SKYMUX CIP,CUIT: 440
NB. Figures from preceding month in parentheses.
( 60 )
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