Former Israeli officer describes Begin-era Lebanon invasion plans as political move to derail Camp David peace process

Former Israeli officer describes Begin-era Lebanon invasion plans as political move to derail Camp David peace process The passage provides a detailed insider account linking Prime Minister Menachem Begin and senior military planners to a covert strategy aimed at undermining the Camp David peace process. It offers specific operation names (Oranim, "Little Pines"), timelines (end of 1981), and strategic objectives, which are actionable leads for further archival or interview research. However, the claims are anecdotal, lack corroborating documents, and the political controversy is already known, limiting novelty and immediate impact. Key insights: Operation "Oranim" intended deep incursion to Beirut‑Damascus corridor and coordination with Phalangist forces; Cabinet opposition led to scaled‑down "Little Pines" security zone plan (40 km strip); Stated goal: pressure the US and halt the Camp David negotiations, not solely counter Palestinian rockets