[Peace-discussion] Lebanese are devastated, angry at Israel, U.S.

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 07:20:20 -0400

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Lebanese are devastated, angry at Israel, U.S.
Dahr Jamail | Inter Press Service | July 25, 2006

BEIRUT, Jul 23 (IPS) - Much of Beirut is a devastated city, 
infrastructure in many areas lies in a shambles after the Israeli 
bombing. But the Lebanese are also just feeling devastated.

"Does our country not have the right to move forward like other 
democracies," says Nidal Mothman, a 35-year-old taxi driver in downtown 
Beirut. "We hate the American government for giving the green light for 
the Israelis to bomb us back to the stone age."

Mothman, like so many Lebanese in the capital city, is seething with 
anger over what he called "indiscriminate" Israeli aggression towards 
their country.

"How many Hezbollah have they killed," Mothman said. "Maybe just a few, 
while they've killed over 350 Lebanese civilians. What kind of war are 
they waging against my country?"

 From the street to the leadership, most people seem to talk the same 
language. Last Thursday Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora told 
reporters that his country has been torn to shreds. "Can the 
international community stand by while such callous retribution by the 
state of Israel is inflicted on us?"

Siniora also accused Israel of massacring Lebanese civilians and 
attempting to destroy everything that allows the country to stay alive.

The facts on the ground add credence to his remarks. The humanitarian 
crisis continues to worsen by the hour, with close to a million Lebanese 
displaced. Officials say at least 64 bridges have been bombed. Many 
roads are cut by the bombing, and this is hindering transportation of 
food and aid supplies.

Other Israeli targets have included the country's largest milk factory, 
a food factory, two pharmaceutical plants, water treatment centres, 
power plants, grain silos, a Greek Orthodox Church, hospitals and an 
ambulance convoy.

In certain districts of Beirut life goes on as normal, but southern 
Beirut has been hit hard, with entire buildings brought to the ground by 
Israeli air raids.

"When do you think this war will end," 22-year-old student at the 
American University of Beirut Nishan Ishaqi said. "I lived in southern 
Beirut, and everything I know is totally destroyed now. I only want 
peace, and a safe place to stay."

Ishaqi, who was preparing to leave for Tripoli (north of Beirut in 
Lebanon) to stay with relatives, wept as he said, "Why must they do this 
to us? If they want to fight Hezbollah, let them fight them -- but not 
the Lebanese civilians."

Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continue to pummel southern 
Lebanon, including the city of Tyre, while Lebanese in Beirut had a day 
of relative calm Sunday.

Foreign war ships are crowding ports as evacuation of foreign nationals 
continues. "Yes, we see the priorities of the western countries as they 
evacuate their people," 55-year-old clothing merchant in the Hamra 
district of Beirut, Ayad Harrar said. "So you see, screw the Lebanese, 
they do not matter to us. This is what their governments are saying to 
us by these actions."

Harrar said people are shocked that his country was once again plunged 
into war, just when they thought they had found peace.

"This afternoon it is calm, but we all know that when they finish 
evacuating their people, we will be bombed once more," Harrar said. "It 
is not possible to live a life while we live under these conditions; not 
knowing when our day to die is coming from more Israeli bombs."

On Saturday, after meeting with members from a United Nations team who 
had just returned from the region, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza 
Rice told reporters that the situation in Lebanon was part of the "birth 
pangs of a new Middle East," and said that Israel should ignore calls 
for a ceasefire.

Not many people in Beirut are able to see it that way. Suthir Amalat 
carrying her child in one arm as she bought water to take home for 
emergencies said she was preparing for everything to worsen.

"We are angry at Hezbollah for starting this catastrophe, but even more 
angry at the Israelis for destroying all of Lebanon," she said. "And 
America, who we thought was our friend, clearly now supports the Israeli 
destruction of our country."

Dahr Jamail <http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com> is an independent journalist 
who reports from Iraq.

          © 2006 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
          View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/39439/

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<big>Lebanese are devastated, angry at Israel, U.S.</big> 
 Dahr Jamail | Inter Press Service | July 25, 2006 
 BEIRUT, Jul 23 (IPS) - Much of Beirut is a devastated city, infrastructure 
in many areas lies in a shambles after the Israeli bombing. But the Lebanese 
are also just feeling devastated.
"Does our country not have the right to move forward like other democracies,"
says Nidal Mothman, a 35-year-old taxi driver in downtown Beirut. "We hate
the American government for giving the green light for the Israelis to bomb
us back to the stone age."
Mothman, like so many Lebanese in the capital city, is seething with anger
over what he called "indiscriminate" Israeli aggression towards their country.
"How many Hezbollah have they killed," Mothman said. "Maybe just a few,
while they've killed over 350 Lebanese civilians. What kind of war are they
waging against my country?"
From the street to the leadership, most people seem to talk the same language.
Last Thursday Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora told reporters that his
country has been torn to shreds. "Can the international community stand by
while such callous retribution by the state of Israel is inflicted on us?"
Siniora also accused Israel of massacring Lebanese civilians and attempting
to destroy everything that allows the country to stay alive.
The facts on the ground add credence to his remarks. The humanitarian
crisis continues to worsen by the hour, with close to a million Lebanese
displaced. Officials say at least 64 bridges have been bombed. Many roads
are cut by the bombing, and this is hindering transportation of food and
aid supplies.
Other Israeli targets have included the country's largest milk factory,
a food factory, two pharmaceutical plants, water treatment centres, power
plants, grain silos, a Greek Orthodox Church, hospitals and an ambulance
convoy.
In certain districts of Beirut life goes on as normal, but southern Beirut
has been hit hard, with entire buildings brought to the ground by Israeli
air raids.
"When do you think this war will end," 22-year-old student at the American
University of Beirut Nishan Ishaqi said. "I lived in southern Beirut, and
everything I know is totally destroyed now. I only want peace, and a safe
place to stay."
Ishaqi, who was preparing to leave for Tripoli (north of Beirut in Lebanon)
to stay with relatives, wept as he said, "Why must they do this to us? If
they want to fight Hezbollah, let them fight them -- but not the Lebanese
civilians."
Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continue to pummel southern Lebanon,
including the city of Tyre, while Lebanese in Beirut had a day of relative
calm Sunday.
Foreign war ships are crowding ports as evacuation of foreign nationals
continues. "Yes, we see the priorities of the western countries as they evacuate
their people," 55-year-old clothing merchant in the Hamra district of Beirut,
Ayad Harrar said. "So you see, screw the Lebanese, they do not matter to
us. This is what their governments are saying to us by these actions."
Harrar said people are shocked that his country was once again plunged
into war, just when they thought they had found peace.
"This afternoon it is calm, but we all know that when they finish evacuating
their people, we will be bombed once more," Harrar said. "It is not possible
to live a life while we live under these conditions; not knowing when our
day to die is coming from more Israeli bombs."
On Saturday, after meeting with members from a United Nations team who
had just returned from the region, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
told reporters that the situation in Lebanon was part of the "birth pangs
of a new Middle East," and said that Israel should ignore calls for a ceasefire.
Not many people in Beirut are able to see it that way. Suthir Amalat carrying
her child in one arm as she bought water to take home for emergencies said
she was preparing for everything to worsen.
"We are angry at Hezbollah for starting this catastrophe, but even more
angry at the Israelis for destroying all of Lebanon," she said. "And America,
who we thought was our friend, clearly now supports the Israeli destruction
of our country."

<a href="http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com">Dahr Jamail</a> is an independent
journalist who reports from Iraq.

<h5 style="margin: 30px 0px 20px;">&copy; 2006 Independent Media Institute. All
rights reserved. 
 View this story online at: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.alternet.org/story/39439/">http://www.alternet.org/story/39439/</a></h5>
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