Out Of Lebanon

Jubilation, confusion and fear
as Israel calls its troops home.

NAOMI SEGAL
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Jerusalem

s its Lebanese allies crumbled and its
guerilla opponents cheered, Israel this
week withdrew its forces from the nine-
mile wide "security zone" in southern
Lebanon that it has occupied for two decades at a
cost of millions of dollars and thousands of lives.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said the action
fulfilled his campaign promise of a year ago and mil-
itary commanders noted that no IDF members were
harmed in the retreat. .
But the hasty departure — a month ahead of
Barak's original July 7 deadline -- left tons of arms,
including tanks and missiles, in the hands of the
Syrian-sponsored Hezbollah (Party of God) guerillas
who waged an unrelenting campaign to oust the
Israeli occupiers.
By Wednesday, the last IDF contingent was heli-
coptered to safety from the Crusader-era Beaufort
Castle eight miles inside Lebanon, while hundreds
of troops from the South Lebanon Army, the Israeli-
controlled militia that supported the IDF presence,
massed at crossing points seeking refuge for them-
selves and their families.
It was not immediately clear how Israel planned
to absorb them or the unarmed workers from south
Lebanon who have long toiled at Israel's northern
settlements.

A

"Tragedy Is Over"

Israeli leaders worked to describe the dramatic
retreat as an intentional and rational finale to a two-
decade-long effort to curb terrorist attacks from
across the northern border. They insisted that it
made sense to abandon a security zone that only led
to casualties rather than guaranteeing security
against Hezbollah's increasingly sophisticated
weapons, including Katyusha rockets.
"This 18-year tragedy is over," Barak declared. He
and his ministers said that responsibility for security
now fell to Lebanon and its military master, Syria,
warning that cross-border attacks would be met with
prompt and stern reprisal.
But media images of the pullout focused on the
jubilantly cheering Lebanese and the rifle-waving
men of Hezbollah as they claimed village after vil-
lage within hours of the IDF pullout. While some
guerillas said their campaign was done, others said
they would not rest until they marched in triumph
into Jerusalem itself
The IDF sought some moments of dignity in
their precipitous retreat, pausing at outposts to take

down the Israeli flag
and sing "Hatikvah,"
Israel's national
anthem.
The gesture was
made, as one Israeli sol-
dier put it, so "we would
have the good feeling we
are not leaving with our
tail between our legs."
At the border cross-
ing, soldiers dropped
their gear and pulled out
cellular phones to call
their parents. "Just so my
mom knows she can now
sleep at night," said one
soldier.
Some soldiers
expressed mixed feelings.
"My feeling is half-
happy and half-sad," one
soldier was quoted as say-
ing. "For me, the person-
al danger is reduced, but
I feel as if I'm abandon-
ing the security of Israel -
right now."

July 7 Deadline

On Monday, Israel's
security cabinet autho-
Israeli soldiers fire their weapons as they run to find shelter during a shooting incident
rized Barak to set the
at the Israel-Lebanon border near Metulla on May 23.
pace of the govern-
ment's promised pull-
back from the southern
"The Katyusha rockets continue to come, fired
Lebanon security zone. The government had
from outside the security zone," Barak said, arguing
pledged to withdraw the troops by July 7.
that Israel's military might is its primary defense and
Barak sought to play down concerns over - the lat-
deterrent to future attacks.
est developments. "We considered far more difficult
In towns and villages 'along Israel's northern bor-
scenarios," Barak said, adding, "We are not facing
der, residents emerged from bomb shelters where
the worst-case scenario right now."
they had spent Monday night at the order of the
Barak reiterated a stern warning to Hezbollah and
Israel Defense Forces.
•
all other players in Lebanon that Israel would respond
The IDF said residents could resume their daily
severely to any attacks on its soldiers or citizens.
lives, but reminded them to be on alert for future
"I don't advise any element in Lebanon, directly
directives, given the likelihood the security situation
or indirectly, to test us," he said. "They will pay a
could change at any moment.
very heavy price."
Many families, however, chose not to wait out the
Israel established the nine-mile-wide security zone
withdrawal. The Acre municipality, further south on
22 years ago to protect northern settlements from
the coast, arranged to take in northern residents
cross-border attacks. However, amid rising public
seeking calmer surroundings.
pressure in the face of continuing Israeli casualties
And local officials in the northern settlements,
— including nearly 1,000 deaths — Barak promised
including the largest town of Kiryat Shemona, fear
to pull out of the security zone, saying it no longer
J
served its purpose.
Related editorial: page 39

5/26

2000

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