Lahd begs Israel not to leave him

In further evidence of the deteriorated morale of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army, its commander Antoine Lahd said that his militia will view Israel as a traitor if it withdraws from South Lebanon.

In a letter last week to the Israeli Labor Party politician Yossi Beilin, who has formed a new movement calling for a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, Lahd urged Israel not to abandon him before ensuring security guarantees for his militiamen.

Lahd wrote to Beilin: "Those people fought alongside you and their blood mixed with your blood for over 20 years in order to defend a common goal. The possible withdrawal from Lebanon cannot be considered an internal Israeli issue, as it directly affects the future of the inhabitants of the area.... Otherwise, Israel will be considered as a traitor."