DATE=5/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL / NORTHERN BORDER (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262847
BYLINE=ROSS DUNN
DATELINE=FATMA, ON THE ISRAELI-LEBANON BORDER
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Israeli troops are adapting to a new reality
along the country's northern border following their
withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The soldiers now
patrol the fence marking the international border,
with only barbed wire separating them from their
enemies in the militant Islamic guerrilla group,
Hezbollah. Ross Dunn reports from the Fatma Gate,
along the Israel-Lebanon border.
TEXT:
/// Ambient sound of Hezbollah supporters
chanting in Arabic ///
The militant Islamic guerrilla group, Hezbollah, and
its supporters continue to taunt Israeli soldiers
along the Lebanese border.
/// Sound of a Lebanese man shouting at
the Israeli soldiers, and fade under ///
From behind the barbed wire fence that marks the
international border, a Lebanese man is pointing at
the soil on the Israeli side, loudly proclaiming that
the whole of Israel belongs to the Palestinian people.
He also says the Hezbollah will not stop until, he
says, one day, God willing, Jerusalem is recaptured
and, once again, placed under Islamic rule.
But other Lebanese believe that the Hezbollah will be
more restrained.
Among them is Jihad Saad, age 23, a university student
from Beirut, who spoke to V-O-A through the barbed
wire fence.
/// Saad Act ///
Hezbollah was never tempted to fire at Israel,
they were only resisting to liberate the
country. And if there is no valid reason, they
will never go and fire in Israel. Anyway, the
Lebanese (public) opinion will never allow this
and Hezbollah is not a terrorist party, will not
fire without a reason.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Saad says that the Israeli troop withdrawal is a
great victory for the Lebanese people. But, he adds,
it will take time for Lebanese citizens to adjust to
the new situation along the border.
/// Saad Act ///
It feels very strange to be here after being
forbidden to come to the region for 22 years,
and now that you are so close to the Israelis,
that were enemies of yesterday and the enemies
of today, of course, and it really feels
strange.
/// End Act ///
The sudden withdrawal of Israeli troops has also meant
the closure of the most easily crossed borders in the
Middle East. For years, thousands of Lebanese workers
crossed each day to work in Israel and returned to
their homes each night.
Now, towns in Israel's northern frontier have begun
replacing the Lebanese with workers from other
countries, such as Thailand, to keep the local Israeli
economy afloat. (Signed)
NEB/RD/GE/ENE/JP
26-May-2000 12:20 PM EDT (26-May-2000 1620 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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