Israel Matzav

Former SLA members on the current war in Lebanon

The Washington Post goes into a bomb shelter in Nahariya to interview former SLA (South Lebanon Army) members who now live in Israel about the current war in Lebanon. The only puzzle about this article is its title: Views Complicated By Dual Loyalties. I don't hear any dual loyalties. These people are grateful to Israel for taking them in and will be more grateful to Israel if it gets rid of Hezbullah so that they can go back home.

The men once belonged to the South Lebanon Army (SLA), a small militia composed mainly of Lebanese Christians that worked closely with Israeli forces battling fighters from the Palestine Liberation Organization -- and later from Hezbollah -- during Israel's 18-year occupation of a self-declared security zone. Fearing retribution by neighbors who labeled them traitors, they and thousands of others fled Lebanon, along with their families, when Israel withdrew in 2000.

One is now a house painter, one a builder, one an unemployed cook and one a retiree.

With Israel again engaged in conflict in Lebanon, their views are more complicated than those rooted firmly on one side of the escalating standoff involving their new country and their old one.

"We are afraid for our families. All of our relatives are still there, in the villages, where the bombs are falling, and we have not heard from them since all of this began," said George, 33, who, like other former SLA members interviewed Friday, spoke only on the condition his last name be omitted because he feared retribution against his family in Lebanon.

"We don't want any more civilians to get hurt or die. But I am pleased, very pleased, with one thing. They are kicking Hezbollah. With the help of God, no one with the smell of Hezbollah will be left when this is done."

I think that's what we all hope here.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:50 AM