Israeli soldiers and Lebanese Christian militiamen met in bloodless combat on Israeli territory today and the Israelis were defeated 2-0. It was the second soccer contest since Thursday between official enemies who have become good neighbors. In the earlier game, an Israeli civilian eleven whipped a team composed of Lebanese workers in Israel by a score of 6-3.
The earlier match was played on the football field of Maalot, the Upper Galilee township where terrorist infiltrators from Lebanon murdered more than a score of Israeli hikers sleeping in the local school building several years ago.
The festive event, watched by 200 Lebanese and several hundred Israelis, signified the changes that have taken place in the region since the tragedy of Maalot. Even more symbolic was the exchange of cups between the rival teams after the game. The Lebanese cup was inscribed in Arabic with the words “Peace Meeting.” The Israeli cup had the words “For Good Luck” in Hebrew.
Today’s game was played on the parking lot of the Israeli infirmary which serves Lebanese civilians. The contestants were soldiers garrisoned at Maalot and militiamen from the Lebanese border village of Klea.
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