ISRAEL/JERUSALEM: ISRAEL IS REELING FROM UNEXPECTED INFLUX OF 6,500 SOUTHERN LEBANON REFUGEES

Record ID: 399470

  • Title: ISRAEL/JERUSALEM: ISRAEL IS REELING FROM UNEXPECTED INFLUX OF 6,500 SOUTHERN LEBANON REFUGEES
  • Date: 25th May 2000
  • Summary: NETANYA, WESTERN ISRAEL (MAY 25, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. MV DONATIONS OF CLOTHING BEING SORTED BY REFUGEES (2 SHOTS) 0.18 2. MV CHILDREN RECEIVING CLOTHES (2 SHOTS) 0.29 3. SV (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER SOUTH LEBANON ARMY (SLA) MEMBER SPEAKING IN REFUGEE CAMP, BLAMING ISRAEL FOR THE PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES 0.41 4. WIDE REFUGEES SAT ON GR
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NETANYA, WESTERN ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA7SDFT2IFBH8I8P5B6E91II3FU
  • Story Text: Israel is reeling from the unexpected influx of some 6,500 southern Lebanese refugees.

    While many Israelis have donated clothing and food, finding accommodation for the refugees, many of whom blame Israel for
    their plight, has proven difficult.



    Israel says it will cost close to a hundred million United States (U.S.) dollars to absorb the refugees, but Justice Minister Yossi Beilin confirmed that any former member of the South Lebanon Army (SLA) would be welcome.

    After meeting United Nations (U.N.) commissioner Sadako Ogata, he told
    reporters: "The immediate problem of accepting them (refugees) has been solved.

    The number is a big number, of some thousands, about 6,000, and we will, of course, accept everybody who has served in the SLA."
    Ogata said it was unlikely that the United Nations would provide
    assistance to the refugees.

    Asked whether the United Nations would provide economic support, she
    replied: "I do not think so, unless it becomes something very necessary for resettlement or something. At this moment the Israeli government
    is fully in control and I am very happy about that."

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