Beirut dispatch

Here is the latest dispatch from Marion in Beirut. Firstly it deals with the tragic airstrikes on Qana where over 50 civilians were killed, many of whom were children. Israel's strongest defenders have tried to explain the killings as Hezbollah's responsibility for operating close to civilians to gain shelter from them, some even more unsavourly blame the victims for not leaving the village as the Israelis warned. Leaving aside the very real fears that civilians in Lebanon have about moving after numerous refugee and humanitarian convoys have been struck causing many deaths, this argument seems as morally reprehensible blaming the people of Haifa or other northern Israeli towns, killed by hundreds of Hezbollah rockets that have been falling on Israel daily, for their own fate by saying "you should have left. Can't you see there's a war on?" You could perhaps argue that Hezbollah are purely targetting civilians, whilst the IDF is trying to hit military targets, but at best that only means they are callously indifferent about killing non-combatants. Better but not by much. Marion's report follow:

Once upon a time in the south of Lebanon, there was a joyful wedding in the village called Qana. Jesus Christ was amongst the guest and this I where he performed the miracle of turning the water into wine. This village’s name was written in the Bible thousands years ago, but it is written also in the history of Lebanon. But this time not as a joyful village celebrating a wedding and drinking red wine. But sadly as a village where the ground has been watered with blood and where the walls still recalled the screams of the injured and the shouts of the people who lost their beloved ones.

In 1996 during “Operation Grapes of Wrath” (remember the name Grapes) hundreds of Lebanese citizens were killed when Israeli artillery fire hit a UN camp where they were sheltering. In 2006, precisely this morning, the same thing happened once again. I wonder is there any relation between the red wine miracle at that wedding thousands of years ago and this mass killing in more recent times named after grapes? If the red wine at that wedding was made by a miracle from God, then is this blood from the murdered children and women now a curse from the Devil? Has the Devil been jealous of this happy village from long ago and got his revenge by turning it into a village of sorrow?

As a reaction to the brutal murder of the citizens in Qana today, thousands of people gathered in rage around the UN building in downtown Beirut, which is located next to the “Banks street” in the centre where I drive every day to work. The scenes on TV showed their anger and their frustration at seeing the UN hopeless, unable to find a way to bring about a ceasefire, a way to find some peace for this country.

I look back in time, and for many years now, Lebanon has been living a “false peace” with Israel. There were war times then there were ceasefires agreements, which only delayed the wars to later years. It looks like a vicious circle with no way out. If this war ends now with a ceasefire, Hizballah will still have its weapons and in the future there is good possibility of a clash in the south with Israel again. Then once again Lebanon will be back in this vicious circle.

There is a part of Lebanese society who believed this war might clip Hizballah’s wings that have lately been growing so strong. But then again they also wondered, what if Hizballah comes out winning? There is fear the Shiites may then run the country, or that Syria (and also Iran) will be back interfering in Lebanon’s economy and politics in the same way that it was for many years until it withdrew from Lebanon in 2005. However these people who do not want Hizballah still do not like Israel and blame it for ruining the country.

And talking of ruining the country; in addition to the billions of dollars worth of damage done to Lebanon’s infrastructure, the killing of more than 600 Lebanese so far, the displacement of hundred thousands of citizens from their homes, the blockading of the country by blocking the airport and harbours, there is now the pollution of Lebanese 80 kms of coastline from Saida in the south to Chiqqa in the north.

Sadly, around 15 000 tons of oil have spilled into the Mediterranean after the bombing of fuel depots south of Beirut in the early days of the war. It will not only take millions of dollars to purify the sea, but also will poison the fish and result in a big crisis for all Lebanese fishermen for a long time. The Ministry of Environment has urged the Lebanese to stay away from the seashore and beaches.

On Saturday, Hassan Nassrallah showed up once again on TV. His voice was trembling a little. The last couple of times he has appeared he only spoke of Islam. As a reaction, particularly Christian Lebanese felt threatened and insulted by his ignoring them as part of this nation. This time, somewhat surprisingly, he addressed himself specifically to the Christian community calling them as important as Muslims in the country and talking of Jesus Christ. He also thanked Christians and Sunnis and Druzes for opening their homes and their schools to the Shiites refugees from the south. He assured viewers that Hizballah’s victory will be a victory for all the country and not only for the Shiites and he asked all Lebanese religions to support him and be united in this war. By his words, he was attempting to placate the fears of those Lebanese who fear a new Shiite dominated-Lebanon, assuring them that this would not happen. He said that Hizballah needed the other religions’ blessings in order to go on with the fighting.

He also addressed himself to his soldiers in a beautiful and respectful way. I must say here, despite the many Lebanese blame him for this war and want Hizballah disarmed, virtually all agree how strong this person is as a charismatic leader – defying Israeli pressure. Also in his speech he agreed with the government’s proposals to reach a ceasefire. Central to these would be the redrawing of Lebanese territory, which means the Shebaa Farms issue; also deploying the Lebanese army across the whole country; Israel giving Lebanon a map showing where it has planted mines; and an exchange of prisoners. Most Lebanese regarded Nassrallah’s comment as a positive on the matter to a future disarming of Hizballah.

Yet despite these positive developments Hizballah is not ready to unilaterally stop fighting and so Israel will persist in attacking Lebanon and more innocent people will die. When will this nightmare stop? Will it ever stop? It is well known that every story that begins with "once upon a time" should end with the following "and they all lived happily ever after". Do you think dear reader, that there will come a day when Israel and Lebanon's story of conflict will have a happy ending? I shall leave the answer to your imagination.

Marion A.J. Beirut, 30 July 2006.