Hundreds of south Lebanese in “Israel” to return home soon: army

“ Hundreds of Lebanese who fled into “Israel” after it ended its 22-year occupation of south Lebanon in May are soon to return home, an “Israeli” army official said on Tuesday.

"Hundreds of south Lebanese presented requests to return to Lebanon and they were granted," an army official involved with caring for the south Lebanese in “Israel” told AFP.

The official, who asked not to be identified, said the south Lebanese would cross “Israel’s” northern border soon, but did not provide precise details as to where or when.

Some 4,700 of the roughly 6,500 mostly-Christian Lebanese who entered “Israel” during its pullout still remain in “Israel”, according to army officials who have been caring for them and placing them in special schools.

The south Lebanese, the majority of whom worked for “Israel’s” proxy militia, feared they would face criminal charges or violence for having collaborated with “Israel” during its occupation.

Many of the south Lebanese, however, have been unhappy in “Israel”, feeling isolated, homesick and idle.

Most of the refugees have moved into Jewish communities as Palestinians have refused to live with them.

Twenty-four Lebanese returned to Lebanon on September 12. Three “Israeli”-allied militiamen among them were immediately detained by Lebanese police. Five other men in the group were kept for questioning while the women and children were allowed to return to their homes in the villages of Qlayaa and Rmeich, in the former “Israeli”-occupied border zone in south Lebanon.

More than 2,200 Lebanese are in the process of being tried before the military court in Beirut, or have already been convicted, for collaboration with “Israel” or simply having "contact with the “Israeli” enemy."

AFP, 19-9-2000.