Israelis stay put southeast of Beirut; peace risk cited

By Compiled From Wire Service Dispatches With Analysis From Monitor Correspondents Around The World; Edited By Anne Collier

October 20, 1982

Beirut

Israeli forces refused to withdraw from positions southeast of Beirut Tuesday because there were insufficient Lebanese soldiers to keep the peace between feuding Christian Phalangists and Druze Muslims.

''We told the Lebanese on Sunday they can move in and enforce law and order, '' an Israeli Defense Force spokesman said. The inadequate force was 3 Land-Rovers and 20 soldiers.