Alaraby
Israel on Sunday approved housing allowances for South Lebanon Army (SLA) veterans residing in Israel, touting it as a “historic justice” to former members of the notorious Christian-led militia, officials said.
The decision, passed by the government, would see some 400 former SLA fighters who did not hold commanding ranks receiving a one-off grant of 550,000 shekels (around $161,000) towards buying a home over the next four years, the Israeli army said in a statement.
The army said the grant provides “a solution for the housing shortage of around 400 families that were not properly accommodated upon their arrival in Israel,” noting the assistance would be given to SLA widows too, “provided that they reside in Israel”.
The SLA was formed in 1976 as a splinter from the Lebanese army, whose ranks were divided a year after the start of the civil war. Initially, it was called the Free Lebanon Army…
