South Lebanese Farmers Ask Israel to Send Agricultural Experts

Reuben Eiland, director general of the Ministry of Agriculture, has revealed that Israel is considering a request from south Lebanese farmers for Israeli agricultural experts to help them with various problems, including a mysterious disease that has attacked their fruit trees. The Lebanese have also asked that Israeli veterinarians inoculate their livestock against hoof-and-month disease.

Eiland said the sending of experts to south Lebanon must be coordinated with the security forces and the experts must be protected while in Lebanon. Lebanese farmers have told Israelis along the “good fence” that no Lebanese agricultural advisor has come to south Lebanon for more than a year. The farmers say they want the Israelis to teach them how to grow vegetables under plastic sheetings, a method used in Israel which speeds growth and produces a richer crop.

Meanwhile, Israeli army medical teams on the Lebanese border have begun distributing postcards to the Lebanese villagers to enable them to communicate with their relatives in Israel. The cards, issued by the Mogen David Adom, are similar to those used by the International Red Cross to open communications between enemy countries. Israel is considering allowing visits back and forth by Israeli and Lebanese Arabs.

At the same time, more southern Lebanese villagers have come to Israel to work in the Jewish Nation Fund forests. The workers. aged 20-50, are being used mainly to clear weeds. Ironically, the forest they are working in is the one dedicated to 22 school children killed in the Maalot school massacre. When the Lebanese workers were told of this, they uttered bitter curses at the terrorists.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese doctor and nurse have come to the border to help the Israeli medical teams at one of the clinics here.