Day Six: Reporting from Lebanon
Being in the middle of WAR, you learn a lot.
Israel claims that this offensive is to bring back the two captured soldiers. However, it is very obvious that it is executing a previously, well-thought out plan to systematically destroy the underlying infrastructure of Lebanon. All of this, is because the majority of the Lebanese people supported the Lebanese Resistance in ending the 18-year (1982-2000) Israeli occupation in May 2000.
What Israel is currently doing goes far beyond its claim to re-claim its two captured soldiers. This morning, Israel raided manufacturing facilities in Beirut (mainly Christians), and demolished them. We heard that the Coca-Cola manufacturing facilites were completely destroyed. Cardboard box manufacturer, water bottling plant, even a garbage recycling facility were destroyed.
In Saida, Israel destroyed the main water supply facilites. In Jeya, Israel destroyed a main power generator, and distribution facility. In many other areas, Israel destroyed fuel and gas distribution plants. A school full with refugees was destroyed in the city of Sour (Tyre). I have a friend who is a surgeon working in the hospital of Jabal Aamel in Sour, who called me to let me know he’s ok, after a rocket blasted a building nearby the hospital.
I will not even try to find out how many people were killed and injured. All I can say is that last night was a horrific night for the people of Lebanon. I’ve attached pictures taken for Assafir Newpaper.
(Note: Many Lebanese Prisoners of WAR, remain in Israeli Prisons, since 1982, as well as landmine maps in the south, that Israel refuses to give to Lebanese authorities, as well as frequent penetration of international air and sea borders of Lebanon by Israeli military, and unwilling to abide by many U.N. resolutions since 1948, in clear violation of international laws …)
This offensive has nothing to do with what Israel is claiming. It is not targetting a certain group, or a certain religion and their infrastructure. It is targetting the Lebanese, in all their 18 religions: men, women, children, young, old, infants, elderly; and the Lebanese infrastucture, where no militias exist. The only people that have been injured so far are innocent civilians. We have not heard of any injuries or death amongst the resistance.
As for us, we survived another night. Many of the families in the South are now taking big risks and leaving under fire. Today, I am contemplating leaving my two children here with my relatives, and trying to go south to Hanawey, to see how I can evacuate the rest of my family, if I arrive safely. My dilema is that there are over 25 family members in the house, and it would be impossible to bring them all. If I am able to get through farm roads to the south, I am hoping to find a driver over there to assist in evacuating with me, in another auto.
best regards,
