LEBANON: ALONG THE ARAFAT TRAIL

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If Arafat's flourishing forces in Lebanon can reach the border of Israel, with or without Lebanese accommodation, they will cause trouble for everyone concerned. Last week they provoked argument anew between the U.S. and Russia. For the first time, the Soviets publicly praised the fedayeen, condemned Lebanon and accused the U.S. of provoking the trouble by supporting Israel. Privately, Soviet Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Dobrynin told the State Department that Moscow wanted to cool the crisis in Lebanon. Washington, unwilling to accept Moscow's private assurances while the Soviets were scoring public propaganda points, angrily dismissed the Russian charges of U.S. provocation. Israel, meanwhile, announced that it was raising the maximum age for military reserve duty from 49 to 55. It also issued its own communique announcing "concern for Lebanese territorial and political integrity." No one doubted that the Israelis were prepared to punish fedayeen attacks from Lebanon, or to react forcefully if the fedayeen caused Helou to lose control.

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