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(31 Mar 1978) notes: col print location: beirut, lebanon title: habash - interview serviced date: 04/01/78 no: lnc 91901 date shot: 03/31/78 length: 78 feet seconds: 2:05 sound: english speech date of arrival: film shows: george habash, leader of the popular front for the liberation of palestine being interviewed about his organisation's views of the cease fire in southern lebanon. lead in: the top radical palestinian leader, dr george habash said in a rare interview with upitn on saturday (31 march), that his organisation, popular front for the liberation of palestine(pflp) would continue fighting in south lebanon and oppose anyone - even the lebanese army - who kept them from hitting back at israel. habash said that the israelis would "never retreat", except by force, and hence his forces rejected the cease-fire in southern lebanon. he pointed out that his forces would not impede the un peace-keeping function, provided that the un troops "did their job" in making the israelis retreat. feet r/secs 78 2:05 cu habash speaking (in english) commentary: habash: "well, it is israel who is concerned with ceasing fire. israel, it is very clear, started the war against us. i cannot conceive, how could a national liberation movement stop its fighting against the enemy who occupies its own land". question: the forces of al fatah seem to be co-operating with the united nations peace- keeping force. will the pflp adopt the same attitude? or can you even envisage circumstances in which you would open fire on them? habash: "well, regarding the first part of the question, all palestinian organisations have the same attitude towards the un forces. to my knowledge, there are no differences regarding the attitude towards un forces. regarding the second part of the question, we will never intend to start any fighting against un forces provided they do their job they are to do, i mean to let the israelis retreat from south lebanon." question: are you optimistic that the israelis will withdraw completely? habash: "no. israel has taught us very well, that it never retreats, except by force." question: with the israelis occupying so many guerrilla bases, in the south now how will the palestinian military strategy change? habash: "well, new bases, new fighting. and of course, we have been since a time concentrating on our fighting inside palestine, and i think this is clear." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...