The big sell-Israeli style

Press, 20 November 1982, Page 9

The big sell-Israeli style

NZPA-Reuter Sidon Two Israeli businessmen, arnied with glossy brochures and a quick sales patter, were yesterday trying to sell prefabricated houses to Palestinian refugees who lost their homes in the Israeli invasion. Four houses, ranging in price from SUS3OOO to ?U513300 were on display outside the heavily-guarded Israeli headquarters in the occupied city - of Sidon in southern Lebanon. But three days after they set out their wares a short distance from the flattened Ain el-Hillweh refugee camp, neither ; had recorded a sale. The camp was devastated by Israeli forces when they began their invasion of Lebanon in June. The businessmen, who say that they are in Sidon solely to make money, believe that sales are being held back by. the; refugees’. ■uncertain:

future in Lebanon and problems in arranging a credit sale. But they do not doubt that some of the refugee families, who are mostly squatting in garages and shelled buildings in the city, have the money to pay. “If we give them credit, what will happen when the Israeli Army leaves? We have no guarantee,” said a Tel Aviv businessman, Yitzhak Tai. As he spoke, a Palestinian woman walked into the three-room house, which was complete with fitted bathroom and kitchen. “How much?” she asked. And the reply from Mr Tai’s Arabicspeaking assistant was the equivalent of SUSI3,SOQ. "It’s very nice, but would you accept 200 lire (about JUSSO) a , month?” she asked. Oded Barnea, Mr Tai’s rival next, door, is pitching for thejrlower.-.end. of the

market with converted sea freight containers selling for ?US3OOO to JUS4OOO. He said that 50 Palestinians had shown interest and he was hoping the Israeli Government, which is helping the businessmen by offering free shipment of the houses, could organise some guaranteed payments system. Ironically, the prefabricated houses being offered to the Palestinians in Sidon are the same as those used by Israelis moving to settle in the occupied West Bank despite protests from Palestinian groups. But their fitted bathrooms would be of little use to refugees in Ain el-Hillweh, where all water has to be carried by women from communal taps. The arrival of the Israeli businessmen is the latest and most surprising twist in a five-month wrangle between the Israelis, the Lebanese

Government and the estimated 25,000 refugees who lived in the camp until it was destroyed in June. Israel, which invaded Lebanon in June to smash Palestinian guerrilla bases, originally wanted the refugees moved further away from its northern border and had banned any attempt to provide housing for the refugees in the Sidon camp. But in August the occupation forces said that the refugees should be sheltered and recently began offering each family 10 free bags of cement to rebuild their homes. U.N.R.W.A. the United Nations agency which looks after the refugees, has planned to provide tents. U.N.R.W.A. officials say that the Israeli offer had turned the refugees against living under canvas, and all 15 tents so far erected have been burned or slashed.