Israel's War of Aggression on Lebanon Set the Country Back for Many Years By Farouk Mawlawi

Israel's War of Aggression on Lebanon Set the Country Back for Many Years

By Farouk Mawlawi

Al-Jazeerah, October 19, 2006

Israel’s thirty-three day war of aggression on Lebanon has set the country back many years, at a time when Lebanon was on the verge of a marvelous recovery from the destruction of the so-called civil war that ended in 1989. Foreign investment, especially in the real estate sector, had reached unprecedented levels, and the tourism industry was looking forward to a very favorable season. Economic indicators reflected rising confidence in the country’s future, as did the performance of the Lebanese government which attracted the interest and support of many nations.

Amidst this near-euphoric atmosphere, Israel launched its relentless, savage air and naval attacks, ostensibly in retaliation for the capture of two of its soldiers at a border outpost by Hizbullah resistance fighters. Actually, it was Lebanon’s civilian population and infrastructure that were the real casualties of Israel’s brutal attacks, while Hizbullah’s military losses were relatively limited. In a report dated 23 August, Amnesty International accused Israel of committing war crimes in its indiscriminate bombardment which caused “destruction on a catastrophic scale.” “The evidence strongly suggests that the intensive destruction of public works, power systems, civilian houses and industry was a deliberate and integral part of the military strategy rather than collateral damage,” the report said.

Nearly 1200 innocent civilians were killed, four times as many were wounded (many of them sustaining permanent disability) and a million were displaced, at least temporarily. An estimated 150,000 Lebanese professionals were forced to seek employment elsewhere as the economy grinded to a standstill. The situation was further exacerbated when Israel continued its aerial and naval blockade, even after a declared end of hostilities in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Following on a statement by an Israeli commander that the Israeli army fired at least 1.2 million cluster bomblets on Lebanon during the war, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, David Shearer, verified that number. “The outrageous fact is that nearly all of these munitions were fired in the last three to four days of the war, by the time the conflict had been largely resolved in the form of Resolution 1701.” He added that they were fired into areas where civilian population dwelt.

Children and farmers have been the main victims of these bomblets which are shaped in such forms as balls, toys and other objects that attract children’s attention. Many farmers hesitate to work their fields, as incidents of bomblet explosion occur almost daily, causing loss of life and injury. Several mine-clearing personnel have been killed in the process of disarming such lethal objects. UN sources estimate that it will take thirty months to destroy most of the unexploded sub-munitions. The UK-based LandMine Action group has said clearing the south could take a decade.

The United Arab Emirates which, in cooperation with the UN, had led international efforts to clear the south of land mines planted during Israel’s previous incursions, had again taken the lead, especially financially, in a wide-spread operation to clear the huge number of bomblets that Israel fired towards the end of the war. Similarly, a number of nations and NGOs as well as UN agencies have begun work on cleaning the coastal stretches that were badly polluted with oil that was released into the Mediterranean when Israeli jets destroyed the fuel tanks at the Jiyeh power plant.

The destruction of most bridges and the disabling of Lebanon’s road network caused immense suffering that is gradually being alleviated through the opening of bypass roads and the installation of temporary bridges. French army engineers have taken the lead in this operation, while several Lebanese businesses and philanthropists are bearing the cost of reconstructing bridges and other public facilities. Arab Gulf states, among others, are contributing the cost of rebuilding many destroyed villages in the south, and in Beirut’s southern suburb. Generous contributions in kind, as well as financial, are helping to speed up recovery. Much remains to be done, but the Lebanese people have shown a rare ability to rebuild, given the establishment of political stability and a secure environment.

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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