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DIARIES FROM LEBANON

ISRAELI WAR PLANES ARE BOMBING BEIRUT Sawsan Kalache & Stefan Christoff writing from Beirut Live from Lebanon (13 July 2006)

Israeli war planes are bombing Beirut. Over 50 Lebanese civilians have died since the Israeli military launched a major military offensive against Lebanon on Wednesday, July 12th. Bombs targeted civilian infrastructure throughout the country, including the key highways and bridges across southern Lebanon effectively halting all cross-country transportation. Israeli has imposed a full out air, sea and land blockade on the entire country, bombing Beirut’s international airport and deploying war ships to patrol Lebanon’s waters.

electronicintifada.net/v2/article4985.shtml

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I DID NOT WANT TO BURDEN YOU WITH THE TROUBLES OF WAR BUT… Zena el-Khalil writing from Beirut Live from Lebanon (13 July 2006)

For the last half hour or so, I have been watching the skyline outside my balcony. It is on fire. It’s 4:14am. At 3:28am this morning, I woke up to the sound of Israeli jets flying low over our skies in Beirut. I was just beginning to finally fall asleep, had racing thoughts in my mind all night, cramps in my stomach, fear… Just as I thought I was going to fall asleep, I heard the sound of jets, followed by one explosion after another. It has calmed down now. I hear morning prayers in the distance.

electronicintifada.net/v2/article4989.shtml

FEAR AND LOATHING IN BEIRUT Mayssoun Sukarieh writing from Beirut Live from Lebanon (14 July 2006)

I live in a neighborhood that is largely supportive of the 14 March 2006 coalition, i.e., my neighbors tend to be critical of Hezbollah and its relation to Syria. The first reaction here, however, was very supportive of the Hezbollah operation two days ago. I first knew of the Hezb operation from screams of joy arising all around the neighborhood. The pharmacist with whom I have argued many times about Syria and the resistance was happy “The IDF deserves it! Is it right what they are doing to the Palestinians in Gaza? Let them take it! Now three soldiers — what are they going to do?”. Then he said: “God bless us though, what will Israel do now? They won’t allow for such an operation; they will go crazy!”

electronicintifada.net/v2/article4999.shtml

THE REPORT FROM DAHE: THE SHELLING IS GETTING WORSE Maymanah Farhat writing from New York, USA Live from Lebanon (14 July 2006)

The shelling in Lebanon has gotten worse since Israel began attacking a couple of days ago. The roads, bridges and overpasses of the south have been bombed to the point where the entire area is debilitated. Villages are cut off from each other, and from main cities. The electrical plant in the south was bombed early on so hundreds of thousands of people have been without electricity during the hottest time of the year. The smallest of bridges (like the one that links our village, Arab Salim, and the main road) have been bombed.

electronicintifada.net/v2/article5000.shtml

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DIARIES FROM ISRAEL AND PALESTINE

BEAUTIFUL MADNESS Am Johal writing from Haifa, Israel Live from Palestine (13 July 2006)

War and chess is what mathematicians and economists call a zero sum game. It is a game built on a model which requires one winner. The problem with developing international diplomatic policy on something as unforgiving as game theory means that civilian deaths become the de facto reality when the struggles of the ego cannot be averted by either side. Stopping this march to madness is a daily struggle of perseverence, patience and determination. Unfortunately, in this context, there are no ends, only means. And the game continues. It is war all the time.

electronicintifada.net/v2/article4978.shtml

GAZA, REPEATED, AD INFINITUM Nora Barrows-Friedman writing from Deheisheh Refugee Camp, occupied Palestine, Live from Palestine (13 July 2006)

We woke up this morning to the footage. No less than six hours after we watched, live, the Israeli bombing of a Gaza building last night, the same rogue military turned its jets north to Lebanon to inflict the same. Forty-seven people — yes, 47 — have been killed in Lebanon already as i write this. No doubt this is just the beginning. The footage: a man, covered in chalky soot from the Israeli leveling of a home, carried in his arms the limp body of a toddler. Her arms dangling heavy in his arms, her mop of hair covering her face.

electronicintifada.net/v2/article4980.shtml

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BACKGROUND DIARY

JUST RETURNED FROM LEBANON: TARFU Clayton Swisher writing from Washington, DC Live from Lebanon (13 July 2006)

12 July 2006 — Even before the Lebanese-based Hezbollah took two Israeli prisoners of war today, I ended my trip to Beirut last week with the feeling that, beneath the beautiful, vibrant country there remained serious political tectonic plates waiting for any excuse to slip. I had conversations and visits over a two week period with Lebanese people of all stripes — from the pro-democracy/anti-Syrian political elite to Hamas to the downtrodden Palestinian refugees to the average Mohammad — and I left with the unmistakable impression that American interests are screwed.

electronicintifada.net/v2/article4982.shtml

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