Deputy commander recounts Israeli cabinet’s secret intent to expand 1982 Lebanon invasion beyond public limits

Summary

Deputy commander recounts Israeli cabinet’s secret intent to expand 1982 Lebanon invasion beyond public limits The passage provides a first‑hand account from a senior Israeli officer that the cabinet deliberately concealed plans to push beyond the publicly stated 40‑km security zone, implicating senior military leaders and the prime minister’s office in a pre‑meditated expansion of Operation Peace for Galilee. It offers concrete dates, unit identifiers, and names of officials, which are actionable leads for further investigation into possible war‑crime liability and unauthorized escalation. While the details are not wholly novel, the insider perspective and specific operational orders add significant investigative value. Key insights: Cabinet meeting included Prime Minister Begin, adviser Gideon Machanaimi, and top generals Arik and Raful.; Decision to launch a full‑scale invasion of Lebanon on June 6, 1982, under the guise of a limited security zone.; Deputy commander served under Yanoush Ben‑Gal, commanding 30,000 troops and 600 tanks in the eastern sector.