Call Number:

Arc MS 66

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Archives at the Library of the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Extent:

.75 linear feet

Language:

Hebrew and English

Preferred Citation:

1982 Lebanon War Collection, 1982-1985, Arc MS 66, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1982-1985 (bulk) and 1979

Form:

Photographs, Negatives (photographic), Poetry, Periodicals, Pamphlets, and Government publications

Abstract:

This collection contains 113 photographs and over 50 pamphlets, books and letters pertaining to the topic of the 1982 Lebanon War. The 1982 Lebanon War began on June 6, 1982, when Israel invaded Lebanon in hopes of pushing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) out of the country and in reaction to the attempted assassination on Israeli's UK ambassador Shlomo Argov.

The 1982 Lebanon War began on June 6, 1982, when Israel invaded Lebanon in hopes of pushing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) out of the country and in reaction to the attempted assassination on Israeli's UK ambassador Shlomo Argov. Although the majority of the war lasted until September 1982, fighting continued until 1985. While the original objective of the war was to push the PLO 25 miles north of the Israeli border for security, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ended up pushing the PLO all the way to Beirut.

According to Oxford Reference, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) is, "A political and military body formed in 1964 to unite various Palestinian Arab groups in opposition to the Israeli presence in the former territory of Palestine."

According to Oxford Reference, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is, "responsible for dealing with external and internal security threats to Israel and was established on 31 May 1948, two weeks after Israel's declaration of independence...The IDF is divided into administrative and territorial commands which deal with all three services: army, air force, navy...There are four territorial battle commands: Northern (Lebanon, Syria), Central (Jordan), Southern (Egypt), and Rear (created after the 1991 Gulf War to protect civilian centres)..."

Works Consulted:

"Palestine Liberation Organization." Oxford Reference. . . Date of access 20 May. 2024, https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110810105543875

Bean, Tim. "IDF." The Oxford Companion to Military History. : Oxford University Press, 2004. Oxford Reference. Date Accessed 20 May. 2024 https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198606963.001.0001/acref-9780198606963-e-596.

James Paul, Joe Stork. "The War in Lebanon," Middle East Report 108 (September/October 1982).

This collection contains printed materials and photographs about the 1982 Lebanon War. In total, there are 113 photographs and over 50 pamphlets, books and letters pertaining to the topic of the 1982 Lebanon War.

The series "Photograph albums of IDF soldier," consists of two photograph albums created by an unknown IDF soldier at some point in 1982. The photographs follow an IDF soldier and his group through Lebanon, taking photos of cities such as Ain Zhalta and historic places such as the Farid Serhal Palace and the Beaufort Castle. In addition to the casual photographs, this photographic series captures the destruction of homes and buildings during the 1982 Lebanon War in addition to the Israeli military tanks and ammunition used. Part of this series includes 139 negatives of the photos found in the album. In negative sleeve two, there are four photos that do not appear at all in the albums which contain three photos of a hotel room and one photo of boxers. Most of the photos that appear in Volume II do not have negatives associated with them. In Volume II, there are four photos containing depictions of human remains.

The series "Government publications," consist, largely, of pamphlets and reports from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism about "Operation Peace for Galilee," with materials defining the Palestinian Liberation Operation (PLO) and the causes of the war, dating from 1979 and 1982. Other items in the series consist of histories of Lebanon, a booklet published by IDF soldiers, a pamphlet published by the Israel Information Center, and speeches given by Israeli government leaders during the war, dating from 1982 and 1984.

The series "Poetry and writings," consists of books of both anti-war and general poetry about the 1982 Lebanon War created by kibbutz members, artists and poets from 1982 until 1985. Also included in this series is a letter from Masada Dror to IDF soldiers asking for peace, and a broadside from Hebrew University announcing lectures and debates concerning the war and Israeli political values. There are twelve issues of the Letter from Lebanon/Igeret MiLvanon from July 1984 until April 1985. There are two copies of issues 11 and 12.