“ Three former members of the pro-”Israeli” militia fled to “Israel” Wednesday, a Lebanese police source said.

The three men, aged from 20 to 25 from the village of Hasbaya in southern Lebanon, crossed the barbed wire fencing on the border in the eastern Abbassiyeh area, he added.

According to locals in the area, their decision was taken after hearing reports that “Israel” had started paying compensation of up to 15,000 dollars to the collaborators.

Three other cases of Lebanese fleeing to “Israel” have been reported since “Israeli” troops' May 24 withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which ended 22 years of occupation.

Some 6,500 Lebanese, mostly former militiamen and their families, followed the “Israeli” army as it withdrew from Lebanon, fearing reprisals from anti-”Israeli” guerrillas or ill treatment from Lebanese authorities.

Meanwhile, mass trials of 2,200 Lebanese accused of collaboration with the enemy have been going on at a military court in Beirut. More than 1,000 have already been sentenced.

AFP, 23-8-2000.