LEBANON: Once Again, Palestinians on the Ropes

"I'm fed up with hypocrisy. From now on, I'm going to say it publicly and bluntly: 'I prefer the Israelis to the Palestinians.'"

—Lebanese Christian soldier

As the soldier's exasperated candor suggests, after more than a year of inconclusive fighting, the patterns of violence in Lebanon have been shaken up by some extraordinary reversals in roles. The Moslem Syrians, who originally entered the Lebanese quagmire in a peacemaking effort, are now deeply committed—on the side of the Lebanese Christians. The Christians, who seemed to be losing the struggle against their Moslem compatriots only a few months ago, are now apparently winning....