This Maronite Christian village was a target of Palestinian terrorist shelling for two years. It suffered terribly. Now, Maj. Sa’ad Haddad, commander of the Christian Militia has proclaimed it the new center for the regular Lebanese army in south Lebanon.
Haddad told a large group of Moslem notables from surrounding villages currently under Israeli control: “I declare hereby the establishment of the south Lebanese army.” He said that all men aged 18-25 will be conscripted and that volunteers would be welcome, Moslem and Christian alike. He said they would be part and parcel of the regular Lebanese army and receive the same pay once contact is established with the central government in Beirut.
Haddad declared that his army has tanks, artillery, troop carriers and other vehicles. In actuality, it functions under the auspices of Israel’s army which provides the weapons and other equipment. He promised that a civil guard will be established to protect the villages against terrorist infiltration. Should his plans materialize, he hopes to recruit up to 7000 men and would become a patent military factor in south Lebanon, numerically superior to the terrorists.
But while the Moslems, members of the Shi’a sect, nodded in assent as Haddad spoke, they were visibly uneasy at being under the protection of Christians. The blood feud is not wholly over. But circumstances have changed. The Israeli army controls the area and as long as it does, Maronites and Moslems will serve together against the common terrorist enemy.
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