The scope of Israeli help to refugees from Lebanon’s ferocious civil war reached a new level today with the disclosure that the “good fence” at Dovev on the border will become tomorrow an official border post with all the facilities and Israeli personnel assigned to a border checkpoint, similar to arrangements at the Jordan River bridges.
Officials also reported that more than 5600 Lebanese have received medical treatment in northern Israel since a field hospital was set up in mid-April to treat civil war veterans. They said two-thirds of those treated were Maronite Christians and the rest Moslems. The decision to open a regular post at Dovev stemmed from the fact that the number of Lebanese victims coming to Israel grows daily and that next week about 100 Lebanese in 30 families are expected month-long visit in Israel in a sort of summer visit program, according to the officials. More Lebanese families are expected to be coming for longer periods than the one day or weekend visits typical since the “good fence” program was organized.
The checkpoint will have a postal service because Lebanese villagers are without such services in Lebanon. Initially, letters will be stamped for delivery only to addresses in Israel and the administered territories. Extension of general postal service for the Lebanese residents will be examined.
CASE HISTORY CITED
The officials reported that a former resident of the Tel Zaatar camp, the Palestinian stronghold which fell to attacking Christian forces last week, had his vision restored in an operation at the government hospital at Nahariya.
Mahmous Fares, 45, originally went to the camp to get a job and when the attacks on the camp started, he succeeded in escaping before it fell but was reportedly severely beaten by the Christian attackers, an assault which deprived him of vision. He managed to get back to his village and from there made his way to the medical clinic at Dovev. There the decision was made to send him to the Nahariya hospital. He is now fully recovered.
PLANS TO FOIL TERRORIST ACTS
Meanwhile, Israeli security forces made plans to foil anticipated efforts by terrorists to interfere with the assistance to the Lebanese victims. Security sources said there were indications, corroborated by Lebanese visitors, that Arab terrorists were planning a series of outrages aimed at undermining the cooperative relations which have developed at Dovev.
According to the reports, the indications were that the terrorists planned actions against Dovev and several other openings along the border used by the Lebanese seeking help. Israeli army units in the area were put on alert.
One forecast of such activities was the firing last week of a shell from a Soviet rocket launcher, aimed at Dovev, near the medical station there treating Lebanese victims. The shell exploded in an empty area and caused neither casualties nor damage.
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