1.
GV: Village of Meiss el Jebel.
0.26

2.
GV: Road built by Israelis with Israeli military post overlooking village. (2 SHOTS)
0.14

3.
GV PAN DOWN FROM Mosque TO Village
0.26

4.
GV: Man and donkey in street followed by woman with donkey carrying goods.
0.45

5.
GV: Old men gathered outside store. (2 SHOTS)
0.56

6.
GV: People in street.
1.04

7.
SV: Farmer in field with donkey.
1.10

8.
GV: Families in street.
1.17

9.
GV: Woman and children washing clothes in village pond. (3 SHOTS)
1.33


The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported on Wednesday (1 March) that Palestinian and Lebanese leftist forces had halted an advance by Israeli-backed rightists in South Lebanon. The agency said fighting broke out when a force comprising two armoured personnel carriers and five other vehicles tried to advance towards the village of Aitatoun near the Israeli border on Tuesday night (28 February). The report said that, despite a heavy bombardment from the Israeli side, the Palestinian-leftist units forces their opponents to retreat.




Initials JS/2050



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Residents of the Shi'ite Muslim village of Meiss el Jebel in southern Lebanon have refused all aid from Israeli and rightist Lebanese soldiers who entered their village last week (20-24 February).

SYNOPSIS: Meiss el Jebel lies only a kilometres inside the Lebanese border with Israel. The Israelis built a military road to the village, and often use it.

The village at first turned down a general offer of help, then told a rightist patrol, which promised to return with vegetables, that they did not want them. The villagers said they were not involved in any of the clashes that had happened in the region, and preferred to remain outside the fighting between Palestinians and the Lebanese rightists, who are backed by the Israelis. The people said they were self-sufficient.

One reason for their desire for neutrality was the fact that their village is only eight kilometres (five miles) from the Palestinian/Lebanese leftist stronghold of Bint Jbail. they have said they would accept only a force belonging to the Lebanese government of President Elias Sarkis. About one third of the villagers have already left for safer parts of the country.