Lebanese remember last year’s Mideast violence
- Montreal Gazette, Sunday, July 15
- Photo: Stop Destroying Lebanon, Montreal, August 2006
A year after violence broke out in Lebanon, members of the Montreal Lebanese community and local activists gathered together last night to remember, unite and heal.
A group of more than 200 supporters took part in poetry readings, first-hand testimonials, discussions and a dinner at the Cote des Neiges Community Centre at 6 p.m.
“Our objective is to get the community together to remember, reflect and identify the issues we face,” said Bassam Hussein, of the Al Hidaya Association, one of several Lebanese groups organizing the event.
Several of the evening’s speakers were in Lebanon on July 16, 2006, when the Israeli government responded to the Hezbollah abduction of two Israeli soldiers by beginning a military campaign.
The conflict lasted 33 days and claimed more than 1,000 lives in Lebanon and at least 150 in Israel.
“We want to ensure the collective memory doesn’t evaporate and also to create a space where people can discuss these issues,” said Stefan Christoff of Tadamon, a local group working for social justice.
