Israel set to complete withdrawal from West Bank
Cease-fire in Lebanon means time to bury the dead
April 28, 1996
Web posted at: 10:45 p.m. EDTJERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's forces remain for the time being in its self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon, but Israeli troops will soon leave the West Bank town of Hebron in the hands of Palestinians.
Health Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israeli radio Sunday that the withdrawal will "most like be before the general elections" on May 29. Hebron is the last West Bank town still under Israeli occupation.
Israeli also eased a closure imposed on the West Bank and Gaza Strip Sunday, allowing 10,000 Palestinians to again travel to jobs in Israel.
But in Lebanon, in the wake of the cease-fire that stopped the cross-border bombardments, Sunday was the day for burying the dead. Funerals were held across the south of the country for the recent casualties of war.
Hezbollah claimed to have lost only a dozen or so fighters during Israel's 16-day offensive, and they buried them in what they called a "martyr's ceremony."
Creeping along at a snail's pace, one such procession for four guerrillas came within a mile of Israel's security zone. Pro-Hezbollah chants blared out to within earshot of Israeli occupation troops. Warplanes that had been in action just two days earlier streaked across the sky during the funeral.
Although grief filled the eyes of their families, the guerrillas died in what Hezbollah claimed to be its most glorious day -- the day Israel agreed to stop firing on Lebanese civilians in pursuit of the resistance.
But that agreement will hold only if Hezbollah abides by new rules of engagement -- no more attacks on occupation troops from villages and no more rockets into northern Israel.
"There is resistance, there is occupation and it will continue," said Lebanese resident Ali Saksouk. "But there is kind of cease-fire for the time being."
In Nabatiya, one of the towns hit hardest by the Israeli bombardment, they buried nine of their civilian dead Sunday - - including three children. There were scenes of overwhelming sorrow, and moments of hysteria.
Among the dead elsewhere were a woman and her seven children -- including a four-day-old baby girl -- killed when a bomb hit their home 10 days ago. It was one of many tragedies bringing with it pain and anger not only out of concern for those who died, but also for those who survived.
"The victims in the hospital, children with no legs, kids with no eyes. We are angry. Of course we are angry," said Yassin Jaber, the Lebanese Minister of Commerce.
At a village close to the confrontation line lies another group of bodies -- victims of Israeli fire which hit an ambulance at the start of the offensive. Israel said the vehicle was used by Hezbollah, but there was no obvious sign of the guerrillas' presence at the site while the Lebanese said farewell.
CNN Correspondent Brent Sadler and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- U.S. pledges more help to Israel on missile defense - April 28
- After the Middle East cease-fire, refugees return home - April 27
- Israel to ease closure of Gaza, West Bank - April 27
- Text of 'The Understanding' agreement establishing the Lebanon cease-fire - April 27
- Blasts, then silence: Cease-fire begins - April 26
Related sites
FeedbackSend us your comments.Selected responses are posted daily. |
|
![[Imagemap]](/WORLD/images/9601/navbar2.gif){kind=small}
Copyright © 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.