1.
GV Lebanon: Sanine Heights near Batroun in Lebanon, Falangist troops in Jeeps and on foot, patrolling. (4 SHOTS)
0.26

2.
SCU Walid Jumblatt, leader of National Movement, speaking in English.
1.02

3.
GV INT Syria: Syria's President Al-Assad and U.S. envoy Habib seated. (MUTE)
1.18

4.
SV Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam, seated (on left).
1.20

5.
CU President Al-Assad.
1.23

6.
CU ZOOM OUT Mr. Habib TO Mr. Habib and Al-Assad seated.
1.30

7.
GV Jerusalem: Prime Minister Begin addressing Knesset in Hebrew as members listen. (SOUND) (3 SHOTS)
1.41

8.
GV Mr. Begin reacts after interruption to speech. (2 SHOTS)
1.46

9.
SV Knesset member shouting.
1.49

10.
SV Mr. Begin speaking in Hebrew to hostile members. (2 SHOTS)
1.58

11.
SV Mr. Begin speaking in English as members listen. (2 SHOTS)
2.21

12.
SV Labour Party leader Mr. Peres speaking in Hebrew in Knesset.
2.27

13.
SV US envoy, Mr. Habib greeted by Mr. Begin, they shake hands and leave.
2.35


SPEECH ON FILM (TRANSCRIPT)



(SEQ 2): JUMBLATT:"That's something beyond the National Movement. It's something beyond the Soviet and American (INDISTINCT) don't have anything to do with it, except that, well, logically speaking we cannot accept or tolerate daily incursions from the Israeli airplanes. The Lebanese skies should be protected by our natural ally, the Syrians, or should be forbidden to any foreign incursion."



SPEECH ON FILM (TRANSCRIPT)



(SEQ 11): BEGIN:"And what indeed is the danger? In addition to all else when our pilots embark to do what they will have to do for the sake of the most vital interests of our security, which is an integral part of the security of the free world, some of them may be downed, killed or taken prisoner."





Initials JS



PART EUROVISION TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: The conflict in Lebanon continued to worsen on Monday (11 May) with shelling and rockets causing scores of casualties in Beirut, while American special envoy, Philip Habib toured the Middle East trying to prevent a clash between Israel and Syria. Both leftists and rightists in Lebanon agreed the fighting was linked with Mr. Habib's tour. Mr. Habib is trying to defuse a crisis which arose in late April when Syria deployed ground-to-air missiles in eastern Lebanon after Israeli jets shot down two helicopters used by the all-Syrian Arab Deterrent Force. Israel says its forces are protecting the rights of Christian Falangists, and is demanding that Syria withdraw the missiles.

SYNOPSIS: The Falangists have been making their own preparations as they continue the struggle to retain their strategic hilltop positions in north and central Lebanon. This areas is known as the Sanine Heights, scene of recent fighting, in the hinterland of the northern town of Batroun. It's a battle which concerns Lebanon's National Movement leader Walid Jumblatt, who also commented on the missile presence while at his Moukhtara headquarters on Saturday (9 May).

On Sunday (10 May), Mr. Habib continued his talks with Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad, but the tension appears to have eased little, if at all. Western diplomats said they did not believe Mr. Habib had won any significant concessions on the issue during his two days in Damascus. A Lebanese newspaper which has close ties with Syria confirmed that view saying President Al-Assad has categorically refused to withdraw the missiles.

Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin was equally categorical on Sunday when he told a news conference that the Israeli air force would attack rocket batteries based in Lebanon, unless Mr. Habib succeeded in having them removed. The following day, Monday he revealed to a stormy session of the Knesset in Jerusalem that he had in fact ordered a strike against the missiles on 30 April, but that bad weather has prevented the dangerous mission being carried out.

Mr. Begin's position has its opponents within Israel, but most, including opposition Labour leader Peres, agree the missile emplacements should go.

Mr. Habib arrived in Jerusalem from Damascus on Monday in a further bid to defuse the issue. For their part, Mr. Begin and his ministers agreed to delay any action while the talks were continuing.