Beirut, Lebanon. Bechir Gemayel, founder of the right-wing Christian Phalange, was assassinated by the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party, along with 26 other victims, virtually all Christian Phalange politicians. Gemayel had just been elected President of Lebanon on August 23, 1982. He had yet to take office. The attack took place at the headquarters of the Christian Phalange. After Gemayel’s assassination, Israel’s position in Beirut became untenable, and the signing of a peace treaty became increasingly unlikely. There was outrage over the IDF’s role in the Israeli-backed and Phalangist-led Sabra and Shatila massacre of Palestinians and Lebanese Shiites. This fueled the Israeli public’s disillusionment with the war. The IDF withdraws from Beirut and ends its operations on September 29, 1982. The May 17, 1983, agreement ends the state of war between Israel and Lebanon and provides for Israel’s withdrawal from the country.
