Members of former pro-”Israeli” militia return to Lebanon with their families

“ Three former members of the former “Israeli”-allied militia who fled with retreating “Israeli” forces on May 24 returned to Lebanon with six members of their families Tuesday, police said here.

The nine returnees, all members of the Druze community, are from the town of Hasbaya, in the former “Israeli”-occupied border zone. They crossed the frontier at the western border post of Ras Naqoura and surrendered to police.

The three former militiamen were arrested, but the three women and three children with them were allowed to return home, the police said.

Of the 5,500 or so Lebanese who fled to “Israel” in the wake of the withdrawal, 309 have now returned. Some have complained of the poor reception they were given in “Israel”, while others say they do not want to remain in exile forever, even if they have to serve prison terms in Lebanon on their return.

More than 2,200 Lebanese are facing charges of collaborating with “Israel”.

The Beirut military court has already issued 911 sentences ranging between three weeks and 15 years imprisonment. One person has received a life sentence in absentia, while dozens have been acquitted.

AFP, 1-8-2000.