Lebanon has passed a new law ostensibly guaranteeing that relatives of members of the South Lebanese Army who fled to Israel following the 1982 Lebanon War can return to their homeland with impunity. Israel supported the South Lebanese Army against both Hezbollah and the Palestinian Liberation Organization during the 1982-2000 conflict with Lebanon. After Israel withdrew in July 2000, thousands of members of that army, together with their families, fled to Israel for fear of prosecution or worse. Get the Israel Hayom newsletter sent to your mailbox! On Wednesday, however, 11 years after the conflict ended, the Lebanese parliament approved a new law meant to encourage these citizens to return home. The ruling states that any former member of the SLA who returns to Lebanon will be arrested at the border but is guaranteed a fair trial. Relatives of militia members and collaborators will, according to the law, not be prosecuted. Speaking to the Lebanese An Nahar daily on Thursday, Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kenaan lauded the new legislation. He added, however, that it is still unclear how the law will protect, or not protect, Lebanese citizens who return to their country after serving in the Israeli army or marrying Israeli women.
New law encourages Lebanese who fled to Israel to come home
New law promises thousands of Lebanese who fled to Israel after 1982 Lebanon War and collaborators immunity from prosecution upon return to Lebanon • Law also guarantees "fair trial" to former members of South Lebanese Army.
