Lebanon a war of destruction: Dispatches from Beirut
An interview with Sawsan Kalache and Stefan Christoff, two members of the Montreal-based Tadamon! collective who are currently in Beirut. The delegation of the Montreal-based group has been working out of Beirut, reporting on the events that have taken place over the past 48 hours. Lebanon is in the midst of the fiercest Israeli bombardment since the liberation of south Lebanon in 2000.
Sent from a Tadamon! friend, a Canadian, who managed to get out …
We sneaked out of Beirut and we are in Damascus now safe and sound but completely exhausted. It took us 6 hours to get here and Masnaa bordering area was under attack with thousands of people fleeing Lebanon, specially Arab tourists. I went to the Canadian embassy and … they did not offer any kind of asistance at all. They told me to manage on my own as they have no instructions from government on how to deal with this situation. It was just a waste of time.
Salaam alaikum all
I don’t have much time as the few moments of internet access I got may not be enough.
Life in Nabatieh has become very unbearable today. Yesterday they destroyed two houses using planes with no casulaties. However today, the bombardments intensified greatly and three attacks by planes left four deads including a relative and many were injured.
In neighboring Jibshit 8 people were killed at the same time and many injured as well. In the afternoon the Israelis started to bomb the city by artillery. Some bomb shells dropped nearby. I had to do some teachings to my kids how to function during artillery bombing; what to do and what not to do.
To tell you the truth, I started to feel fear for the very first time.
This is only a sign of what to come. Indiscriminate artillery bombardment.
This is only how much time I got.
I hope I can talk to you later.
We all need your prayers.
From fire of celebration to fire of shame, from Montreal to the Middle East
Human chain in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and peace in the Middle East, in the Old Port, as an addition to the international fireworks, in which the United States are the Wednesday participants.
Date: Wednesday, 19 July 2006
Location: Old Port of Montreal
Time: At 8pm, gather at Place Jacques Cartier; At 8:30 pm, begin to put together the human chain on de la Commune Street near Quai du Vieux-Port.
by Bilal El-Amine
Hi everyone. First of all, I am fine as are family and friends. We’re scattered in different places, some still in the south, some in Tyre, the rest in Beirut and its surroundings. Those who live in the southern suburbs where Hizbullah is based managed to leave before the latest strikes and are safe with relatives.
As most of you know, Hizbullah carried out a bold operation a few days ago and managed to capture two Israeli soldiers. The resistance has been saying for quite some time now that it intends to free the remaining Lebanese prisoners in Israel, most prominently Samir Qantar.
Forwarded to Tadamon! by Lebanese friends …
Salam Alaykum,
July 16th. 2006. 11:00a.m.
Yesterday evening, Isreal continued to commit atrocities in Beirut, Baalbeck, and southern villages. Specifically in the village of Marwaheen, Isreal committed another Qana-Like massacre, where women and children were turned away from United Nations Post, and Israel massacred them nearby these posts.
The International Community remains silent to these atrocities, and Arab Nations, specifically Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have not condemned this WAR. It seems everyone is betting that the Lebanese will have an internal conflict, and raise pressure on the resistance to surrender.
Foreign embassies are evacuating their citizens.
For four days straight, since Wednesday 12th of July at around noon, Israel has been bombing Beirut, the south of Lebanon, parts of the Bekaa and other parts of Lebanon non-stop. It is 12:49 am Sunday morning right now. In Beirut, Israeli warplanes are throwing bombs successively on an area called Haret Hreik in the southern suburbs of Beirut, and it has just been announced that there is a big fire expanding through the whole area.
URGENT CALL FOR DEMONSTRATION
Sunday 16 July, 11am, gathering at Peel and René-Lévèsque, Montréal
In the past 96 hours, the Israeli assault has killed 97 civilians in Lebanon, tens of whom were children. There have been 266 injuries.
Due to the latest escalation and attacks that Israel has been waging against Lebanese civilians, targeting people in their homes and damaging the vital infrastructure that supports their daily lives (roads, institutions, bridges, and airports), you are asked to join in the demonstration to protest the Israeli atrocities and crimes that are being committed against unarmed innocent civilians.
Sent from a Tadamon! friend in Lebanon …
It is extremely tense here and the situation is deteriorating by the second. I am trying to get out without success and my wife and son are terrified. We stay in Sfeir, which was the first area to be targetted – and the destruction is unbelievable. The pressure of the first rocket sent Hassan (my 10-month old son) two meters in the air. It hit a bridge less than 500 meters away.
My parents are in the south (Ansarieh) along with 3 brothers and their families and that town was attacked savagely last night. Hundreds of my family members are under siege in many places.
Beirut Airport blast (15 July)
Israeli war planes are continuing to bomb the city. I am writing from the Hamra district of Beirut, where there are increasing numbers of refugees fleeing from the southern suburbs and the south of the country. Throughout the day, Israeli warplanes have hit the southern suburbs of Beirut.
