LOOKING FOR
ASSISTED
AVI MACHLIS
Special to the Jewish News
Amnon Beach, Isra el/JTA
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hen Sdad Hawa, a for-
mer fighter -in the
Israel-allied South
Lebanon Army, took a
bullet in a 1987 battle while fighting
alongside Israeli soldiers, he never
dreamed he and his comrades would
end up in a makeshift transit camp
on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
But this week, Hawa joined the
mounting number of confused and
dejected SLA fighters and other
Lebanese villagers who fled their
homes, fearing for their lives, after
Hezbollah forces secured control of
southern Lebanon.
After seeking asylum in Israel,
these refugees are now trying to sort
out their lives and understand what
happened.
Some of the thousands of refugees
were angry at Israel for failing to secure
conditions for an orderly withdrawal
that would have allowed them to leave
with theirbelongings.
Others said events had simply
unfolded too fast.
"The situation was just out of con-
trol," a red-eyed Hawa said Tuesday,
his lip trembling as he pondered the
chaos of the past three days. "We did
not bring anything except for the
clothes on our backs..I don't think we
will be going back soon."
Outside Amnon Beach, a run-
down resort now functioning as a
transit camp, a convoy of 20
sparkling tourist buses was preparing
to take SLA members and their fami-
lies to various hotels and kibbutzim
throughout Israel.
Exhausted women andxhildren
peered out of the windows. Others
were asleep. These were the newest
refugees of the Middle East.
Meanwhile, unkempt SLA fighters
who belonged to the 80th -Battalion
in the eastern part of the former secu-
rity zone milled about, looking con-
fused and dejected.
Many were afraid to proVide their
names, fearing reprisals against family
members who stayed behind. Some
still wore the olive-green uniforms
bearing the Hebrew insignia of the
Israel Defense Forces.
Although some dreamed of the day
that they might be allowed to return
to their homes, they were not holding
their breath.
For now, the alternatives are to stay
in Israel Or move away to the United
States or Europe, where, perhaps, the
.:MES
No.
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Two Lebanese army soldiers guard members o the Israeli-allied South Lebanon
Army in the former Israeli occupied village of Beit Yahoun on May 22
Strgt&TEMINEMLV
- ERNMEESMEMINSIMBEINSMEMINAMMEEMORITMTNEMI
cross The
■
Dejected SLA fighters are torn
by fast-moving events.
events that created their personal cata-
arrangements for our families."
strophe may be forgotten.
Still, much of the anger was
Just days before, these SLA fighters
focused on Lebanon. Although the
had hoped to hold onto their out-
SLA fighters know that they are con-
posts in the eastern sector of southern
sidered traitors in Lebanon, they
Lebanon long enough for arrange-
insist they had fought to protect
ments to be made to evacu-
themselves, first against
ate their families;
palestinian. g4errilla
But 22 years of support
groups sonie 20. years
from Israel may have ma. - de
ago,- -later against --
the 2,500 SLA militiamen a
Hezbollah.
bit too self-confident about
-Some hoped an
their ability to fend for
arrangement with the
themselves.
Lebanese government
Within hours, Israel
might allow them to stay
advised them to flee their
in their homes. --
predominantly Maronite
'ilebanon has no - con-
pullout
Christian village of Ayn
trol over the situation,"
Lebanon hasten
Dibil before Hezbollah gun-
said Dori, who crossed
or
hamper lastink the border with his
men triumphantly marched
in to celebrate what they see
peace in the
brother, an SLA fighter,
as their victory over the
and.many other family
Mideast?
Jewish state.
members.
Give your opinion on
"We had no idea it would
"There are a lot of
JN Online at
disintegrate so fast," said one
people in Lebanon who
www.detroit
SLA soldier. "The Israelis
do not want this situa-
jewishnews.com
said they would first make
THE LINE on page 24