Lebanese jail 22 for collaborating with Israel

A Lebanese military court has jailed 22 people for collaboration with Israel.

They were either convicted for collaborating directly with Israel or for joining the South Lebanon Army, a pro-Israeli force.

The 22 have received prison sentences ranging from three weeks to three and a half years. The court dropped charges against two people for lack of evidence and acquitted a third.

Lebanon prohibits any dealings or contacts with the Jewish state.

The military court, whose verdicts cannot be appealed, has sentenced more than 2,100 people to jail terms of up to 20 years.

At least 10 former SLA militiamen have been sentenced to death in absentia for killing Lebanese guerrillas who fought Israeli forces in south Lebanon.

Some 2,200 members of the SLA surrendered to Lebanese authorities or were captured after Israel withdrew in May. The rest, mostly ranking officers, fled with their families to Israel or other countries.

Some 800 SLA militiamen and collaborators are still awaiting trial.