U.S. to give Israel $50 million to protect northern border
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, May 31, 2000
JERUSALEM [MENL] -- The United States has offered Israel $50 million to
cover the cost of protecting the northern settlements following Israel's
withdrawal from southern Lebanon last week.
United States Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk met with Israel's head
of northern command, Maj.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi Tuesday and pledged U.S.
support to Israel.
"Secretary Albright told Prime Minister Barak a few days ago on the
phone that we will make available $50 million in existing foreign military
assistance for the use through the army corps of engineers to help to
provide for security in this part of Israel, in the north of Israel as a
result of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon," Indyk said.
Indyk also congratulated Israel on its withdrawal from Lebanon.
"It's been the long standing policy of the United States government that
Lebanon should be free of all foreign forces and the Lebanese government
should exercise its sovereignity throughout all of its territory and that's
a policy we'll continue to pursue," he said.
Earlier, Israeli military officials said that the Israeli army had
abandoned state-of-the-art military equipment in southern Lebanon,
including an armored personnel carrier, as Israeli troops hastily evacuated
the Hatzbaya outpost in the eastern sector of its withdrawal last week.
The Israeli Air Force later blew up the APC. It also destroyed 40 tanks
and cannon batteries belonging to the South Lebanon Army, Israel's daily
Ha'aretz reported Tuesday.
Despite efforts of the Air Force, Hizbullah guerrillas and the Lebanese
army appropriated several cannons and armored
vehicles.
But a senior military source said Monday that Israeli troops did not
abandon computers belonging to the liaison corps at Marjayoun base.
However, Israel did leave behind food and equipment at the the supply
base at Fatma Gate. The abandoned equipment included sleeping bags, military
clothing, new trucks and large amounts of food. Wednesday, May 31, 2000
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