Its very painful to see your country being destroyed. After nearly three weeks of destruction, it still feels like a bad dream. I feel intense anger which I am sure is shared by most Lebanese today. While it is easy to misplace this anger and to focus on revenge, I think its best for us to direct it towards actions that will help make Lebanon and even the world a better place.
As far as we Lebanese are concerned, the destructive force that Israel has so deliberately and cynically directed at our nation was born of pure hate and can in no way be justified, no matter how hard pro-Israelis will try. July 2006 will go down in our history as a dark episode from which I am certain we will rise only stronger. No, we will not let Israel’s racism and cynicism destroy what we have, a country that seeks to embrace rather than erase a diversity God created.
Israel’s cynicism is only equaled by the arrogance and heartless attitude of the US administration. How dare they speak of a “new Middle East” being born on the corpses of our brothers and sister? How have their hearts become so numb to the pain others feel? They expect us to negotiate under fire. What gal!
While I certainly fault Hezbollah for so recklessly gambling with the lives of their fellow Lebanese, and would never condone the killing of innocent Israelis, I am not fooled by Israel’s exploitation of this group’s actions to declare all out war on my country. For me it is clear: Israel was entirely unjustified in its response which was an act of 1000 eyes for one eye, driven by what can only be a feeling of God-given superiority over all those who do not belong to the “chosen people”. Moreover, I am quite certain that the actions of the State of Israel have nothing to do with the principles of Judaism nor the message of its Prophets. Zionist hatred is alone responsible for these barbaric acts.
I should add that it is also disturbing to listen as the Lebanese unanimously condemn the heartless killing of Lebanese civilians and the destruction of the country’s infrastructure, as they should, yet find no such sentiment to express when it comes to the death that befalls fellow humans on the other side of the border. Why is it OK to rain bombs on innocent Israelis, but not OK for them to rain bombs on us? Indeed, while I may see the rationale of having a resistance movement in the south of Lebanon which seeks to defend a historically abused community, I see no justification for Hezbollah provocations.
Once the war ends, as we all hope it will soon, and we proceed with rebuilding our nation and deepening our democracy, we must above all be consistent and true to ourselves. If its humanity we wish to express in our lives, then lets do so consistently. This means weeding out the fascist tendencies that exist among many in Lebanon. Our enmity with Israel is not only military and political, but also philosophical and in this battle we must ensure that we do not lose ourselves in fighting them.
Emir;
Please do not read the following as a patronizing attempt to educate you, but I do believe you need a little more insight to Israeli mentality as you don’t seem to understand us one bit. Well, here goes:
The Fierceness of the Israeli response has nothing to do with “Zionist hatred” or being the “chosen people”, it has mostly to do with the keeping of a doctrine central to Israeli politics (and to the ruling party’s political survival) – I will call it “give them something to lose”. The Idea was pretty straight forward: Israel is better off taking unilateral action (2000 Lebanon withdrawal, 2006 Gaza withdrawal) – not only because this gains world opinion sympathy for Israel, but because the “other side” knows that any additional aggression will be met by devastating retaliation (which would this time be “legitimate” in world opinion) and would hence loose whatever they gained by the Israeli withdrawal. This would be the best deterrent and will achieve better security for Israel than holding on to these territories.
I suppose I don’t have to tell you that this doctrine has failed miserably, both in Lebanon and in Gaza.
You see, the latest kidnappings / raids in Gaza / Lebanon, both on the internationally recognized Israeli side of the border, were pretty much the “last straw” (please remember Ehud Olmert’s main election campaign was about additional unilateral retreats in the west bank) – It seemed now, that in order for the doctrine to work, that last bit about “devastating retaliation” will have to be realized.
So, the destruction of Lebanese infrastructure is not so much a goal by itself as much as an unfortunate (but necessary) side effect. The REAL goal is actually not the destruction of Hizballa (although any damage caused to them is welcome), but instead making sure they won’t dare try a stunt like that for a long time to come, and maybe having the additional effect of discouraging the Palestinian extremists as well.
As for me, I feel physically sick when I see the pictures of dead civillians, old people and children among the rubble. I regret any loss of innocent life more than I can say. Even so, I still hope that blasted doctrine I just described works, if for nothing else, because it’s almost the only way to get Israel to retreat from the west bank, considering Israeli politics / pressure groups – but that si a different discussion…
Rimstalker
I am an outsider to both sides, however I even hate using the term both sides, as on the Lebanon side, reality is there are many sides to the one, some want war, some dont, some brought on the war, some are just caught in the crossfire. The way this is playing out from a Westerners perspective, is that Hizbollah started this aggression on the whim of a prisoner exchange that backfired and literally blew up in their faces. Now in order to save face for dragging Lebanon into all out war, they have launched a media war to shame the Israelis into backing down. The only way to win this one, is to make Israel everyone elses enemy. As sad as Qana was, it seems to me that event might have been staged, staged in the terms, that Hizbollah might be more guilty of triggering those deaths than Israel. From reading UN blogs, the Hizbollah are far from innocent in the deaths of civillians and UN workers, and they help along “collateral damage” by planting mines in sensitive areas.
Anything bad that comes out again is Israel is picked up like a crisp 100.00 bill by the western left and waived around like a flag, and Hizbollah knows that, it plays to them, it also gives them sympathy and power abroad, via public opinion. We have some people here that believe that Israel is the terrorist aggressor, not Hezbollah, personally I think anyone that thinks that, needs a history lesson and their head checked. However some here think the Hizbollah is right up their with Mother Theresa in terms of being a social agency, yes it helps its own, but so did La cosa nostra..
I have been readin alot of Lebanese blogs lately, and Israeli blogs as well.
What I have been looking for, is the outcry of Lebanese prior to this conflict over the Hezbollah seeding residential areas with landmines, and missles. Was there public support for this, was this shear apathy towards the dangers and consequences , or total laziness in terms of the Lebanese public and government alike.
But I suspect the diversity of the Lebanese public, the fragmentation of the society has alot to do with why, a society seemingly as forward as this would allow a theocratically sponsored terrorist group with an open and public racist hatred for its neighbour to flourish within its borders.
Can Israel however keep the peace, yah probably, if it doesnt get missles randomly fired at it.. Even when it does, sometimes Israel does show restraint. Remember the first Iraq/US showdown, scud missles were fired repeatedly at Israel, and they stood by as the US asked them to.
It probably seems I am pro Israeli by now, but that would be far from it, I dont agree with it on alot of fronts, I was however impressed when it chased its own from the west bank and other disputed territories. That took alit of intestinal fortitude from a government to counter its own people. I am not impressed that its so heavily subsidized by western countries, I think its times to set it free and see if it can stand on its own, I am not one for subsiding other peoples choices, needs maybe, choices no..
For the US, allies in that region are hard to come by, so dont expect the US to pull the training wheels off of Israel anytime soon.
I dont think Israel had much choice really, otherwise the rockets , the kidnappings , and the bombs would have just carried on and on and on and on forever, its the reason hizbollha exists after all. No matter what Israel gives them they would never be happy, unless it was their own heads…
Rimstalker
Thanks for the “education”. Still, I don’t expect that Israel would wage its current campaign openly under a racist banner. The doctrine you mention is simply the fig leaf which Israelis cover up their bigotry which is deeply rooted in your society.
While I may not have the insight of someone living in Israel, you yourself might benefit from the insight of an outsider. If you think Zionism is not hate-filled, you are living a delusion.
Emir;
Regardless of whether Israel is right or wrong in it’s actions or even in its existence, you are dead wrong on this issue. You actually seem to believe that Israel is a monolithic society with one view of the conflict / Zionism / whatever, while the truth is far from it. The “Bigotry”, as you call it, CAN be found in the “Messiah Religious” sect, I will grant you that. They believe All of “Greater Israel” belongs only to the Jews and that the Arab population are just intruders, etc, etc. But they are no more than 5% of the population! I will admit that those extremists have bullied Israeli politics many times (remind you of someone?) but not always (see Gaza withdrawal).
I am an Israeli, born in Israel. My Parents both have been born here as well. I belong to the liberal left and I assure you that doctrine I talked about before was VERY real to me, and many others like me. It is our collective votes, which push the balance against the extremists. This doctrine was the Lefts central leverage, in convincing what we call the “political central mainstream” in supporting the withdrawals. So please don’t tell me I am delusional, as I don’t call you one even if I think some of you opinions are.
Rimstalker
Rimstalker
I do respect your view; and I certainly did not mean to insult you, and I apologize if I did. However, my take on the issue is also real and valid. For one thing, when I see how Israel responds to Arab “terror” by attacking entire populations, I am disturbed. How is this better than what the terrorists themselves are doing? You admit yourself that the doctrine Israel is operating under is to raise the cost on Hezbollah by punishing the Lebanese population. Is this not terrorism too? Using violence to obtain political objectives.
The only thing I can conclude is that Israeli society is racist since it sees all Arabs as the problem and does not attempt to differentiate between them. Killing people who have nothing whatsoever to do with Hezbollah is a crime and must be a result of the complete insensitivity of the Israeli public.
I think it is time that Israel begin to understand that it has many potential allies in the region. There are many people, including myself, who are willing to live side by side with an Israel that respects us and can work with us on a basis of equality. Yes, we have extremists too. But those would shrink to a similar 5% of the population as have Israel’s. It cannot be based on the arrogance which we see today and must necessarily take time, but it is the only real future.
To be clear, I am not denying Israel’s right to defend itself using violence if necessary. But the disproportionate response we are seeing now is unjustified and will only lead to a worsening of the situation.
While Israeli voters see the campaign destroying Hezbollah’s military assets, its also destroying our country and the forces that are pulling Lebanon in a direction which will promote peace and greater understanding. Those are the forces that Israel should capitalize on. Instead, the violence is strengthening the extremists.
Emir;
I understand what you are saying, and I agree with you that harming innocents is ALWAYS evil. I can also tell you that I talk to people around me, read talkbacks in Israeli Online press (Israelis are very Internet-literate) and see the news, etc. The harm done to the Lebanese population disturbs many, many people deeply – which does not contradict the latest polls showing a 90% support of Israeli public in the current military campaign, and I will attempt to explain how this contradiction exists (please bear with me, even if you disagree…)
First, from the Israeli side, many view the Arab anger at harming innocents and people not supporting Hiszaballah as hypocrisy. I mean, when one of my work colleagues (his name was Moses) sat at Maxim restaurant in Haifa (Arab owned by the way) and got himself, his wife and two of their kids (the third lived, though blinded) blown to bits by a suicide bomber (young woman) – did anybody care he was a liberal left, that he supported leaving the west bank, that he opposed extremists?
“You reap what you sow” works both ways….
As for Israel doing the same – I would definitely accept that was terrorism as well, IF I would except that Israel is doing the same – which I do not!
There is a BIG difference between “Targeting civilians deliberately” (as you believe Israel is doing) and “Not doing enough to prevent harming civilians” (which many Israelis believe Israel is doing) – one is terrorism, and the other, well, may be very wrong, but isn’t terrorism (the way we see it).
I want to tell you some more about Israeli politics in this context – Perhaps you have heard of “Betzelem”, “Four Mothers”, or “woman in Black”– All these are Israeli “human rights watch” groups – except they are dedicated to reporting human rights abuse on Israel’s behalf in West bank, Gaza (and Lebanon up to 2000). These guys post volunteers on checkpoints to report on Soldier abusing Palestinian civilians, risk their lives in the west bank, and get beat up of worse (several times) by Jewish settlers / extremists – They are not afraid to speak up – and they do not claim Israel is “deliberately targeting civilians” – perhaps it could be you are wrong?
Rimstalker
There is a BIG difference between “Targeting civilians deliberately” (as you believe Israel is doing) and “Not doing enough to prevent harming civilians” (which many Israelis believe Israel is doing) – one is terrorism, and the other, well, may be very wrong, but isn’t terrorism (the way we see it).
Very well put, but alot of people have a problem understanding that and accepting that. I can help but feel frustration when I see groups like Human rights watch, and other notables, screaming war criminals and terrorists towards Israel when innocents get killed, but are deadly silent when Hizbollah launches a missle attach deliberatly aimed at civillians that does kill civillians. Its like they agree with the hizbollah, and dont have a value for Israeli life.
Rimstalker
Its not whether I am right or wrong. Just forget for a moment which side you are on and consider this: would you accept what is happening to your country today if you were Lebanese? Please consider that question for moment. Then ask yourself how I could ever agree with the action that Israel is taking against my country? Should Hezbollah be dismantled? Yes. But not this way! And punishing the Lebanese people is not the way to do it.
Besides, its not only wrong, its also counterproductive. Bombing Lebanon is producing more extremism and reducing the chances of real peace between our countries.
Furthermore, I am not sure whether you are aware of the efforts that many Lebanese have made over the last 18 months to find a way to disarm Hezbollah. Many politicians risked losing credibility, particularly among those who would label them as doing Israel’s bidding, when they supported UN Security Council 1559 which called for disarming all militias including Hezbollah. Progress was slow but it was being made.
As for the hypocrisy, the Lebanese were not those who perpetrated the bombing in Haifa or any of the other heinous terrorist attacks in Israel. Being Arab does not require that we jump to condemn these acts, though I often wish we do. Unfortunately, in the eyes of most Arabs, Israel’s own willingness to take often brutal action against the Palestinians, and Israeli policy’s apparent complete disregard for their rights, does nothing to engender sympathy.
Emir;
If I were Lebanese? I would probably sitting in my Beirut office, writing in my Blog the exact same stuff you are writing now….but then so what?
I am not trying and make you “approve of us”, “accept us”, “justify our action” – to ask that while your civilians are being killed every day is ludicrous!
But then I read the kind of comments I see in your and other Lebanese’s postings: “Israel is massacring”, “Israel’s Blood thirst”, “Israel wants our children dead”, “Israel is Butchering the Lebanese people”, “This is an Israeli conspiracy to steal Lebanese water”(yeah, that too)…..
The comments are not important as the state of mind they represent: If people believe half of what they are posting, then Israel really has nothing to gain by reaching out to the Arab world – it’s pointless.
Of course I know that Emir Bachir and millions of other Lebanese/Arabs have nothing to do with the Maxim bombing, and that they only want to live in peace.
But in what ways can Israel’s violence be counterproductive? Is Nasrallah’s extremism in any way dependant on what Israel does or does not? He views Israel through a single prism: is it weak? How ill it respond if I do this? Maybe try that? For Israel, Nasrallah and his henchmen ARE LEBANESE, not Swedish or Belgian, and THESE Lebanese will not be appeased by any concessions Israel might be willing to make!
What will Israel gain from all this violence? not sympathy, for sure – but Nasrallah has non to offer….what else then? A few less launchers, a few less rockets, some time before Hizbullah manages to recover these, and maybe several years of quiet before it attacks Israel again! (of course the miracle of Lebanon disarming HA might actually happen as well…) – The civilian casualties that happen along the way are tragic – and yes, I think Israel CAN and MUST do more to prevent their being harmed! I don’t think it firing discriminately now – 3000 airborne attacks, each with over 2-tons of explosive would result in much, much more death if it was doing that…
Here is to Peace in our time, (but I will settle for a 20year long Cease fire…)
Rim stalker
Rimstalker
Reaching out can only happen if you believe there are humans to reach out to and you believe that what divides you are misconceptions and prejudices. Indeed, if you believe peace is possible at all, how can you not reach out?
I will admit I have benefited from our discussion here on the blog. I am open to learning more and hope we can keep writing.
I am creating a new blog:
http://just4peace.blogspot.com/
For Lebanese and Israelis who believe peace is possible and want to work towards it by breaking down the misconceptions.
Are you interested in becoming a member?
Write me at: k.0503@yahoo.com
Emir;
I have sent you an email to which you can reply, or you can contact me at rim_stalker@yahoo.com
rimstalker