Translation/Interpretation/Caption Text:
Arabic translation: Steadfastness - Ain al-Hilweh (the name of a refugee camp)
Poster exhibit for the artist Abdul Hay Musallam
Curator's note: This poster dates from and refers to the battle that took place in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh in 1982.
Gil'ad Be'eri, an Israeli historian wrote: "...The refugee camps were heavily fortified, full of bunkers and fire positions. The Palestinian defence at Ain al-Hilweh and other refugee camps was based on hand-carried anti-tank weapons such as the RPG (rocket propelled grenade)...The IDF was not prepared for this kind of fighting, having at hand mainly armoured forces intended for use in open areas. The built-up area inhibited long-range weapons, created an equality between the tank and the RPG (often wielded by 13- or 14-year old boys), and increased the number of Israeli casualties...Palestinian resistance seriously disrupted the timetable of the planned rapid advance to Beirut. It took eight days before the final crushing of resistance in Ain al-Hilweh. The method adopted by the army was to use loud-speakers to call upon the civilian population to move away, search the houses one by one, surround points of remaining active resistance and subdue them by overwhelming fire."
