Jack Redden, spokesman for the UNHCR, said, "in the area of Byblos, 2,600 people were still homeless, adding that there were 3,400 in Kesrouan and 6,000 in the Metn." Redden then said that "the charity group Caritas estimated that there were still 35,000 homeless people in Beirut."
These figures do not take into account families who have returned to the South or Harek Hreyk, yet reside with family or friends (this category obviously constitutes the majority of Lebanon's new internally displaced population).
I couldn't be angrier. The Israelis definitely dropped the bombs, but Hizballah provided them with exactly what they needed to go through with the bombing campaign. Moreover, the organization created such a false sense of security (their now infamous and imaginary "deterrence capabilities") that had the results not been so cataclysmic, I'd be on the floor laughing my eyes out.
The primary purpose of responsible combatants (i.e. Armies) around the world is to protect the population that provides it with the manpower and resources it needs to exist. Hizballah, on the other hand, appears to exist at the expense of the population that, at the very least, provides it with the manpower it needs.
How does Nasrallah get away with it? Well, much smarter people could probably give you the answer to that question. Maybe this book will help. If it does, come back and tell me - I'd like to know!
Update: Here are some more facts & figures to celebrate (remember, every single one of those numbers has a life and story attached to it):
- Economist Kamal Hamdan forecast that unemployment could more than double from the official level of nine percent before the fighting to as high as 20 percent in the coming months.
- Fellow economist Marwan Iskandar said: "In the short term, over the next six months, 50,000-55,000 people are going to lose their jobs."
- Iskander estimated the number of lost jobs in the industrial sector could climb to 10,000. Another 2,000 retail workers are expected to be laid off as consumption plummets.
- Analysts agree that tourism and services will probably suffer the most... . In high season, 110,000 people are employed in those sectors, and they were looking forward to a record year as the country continued to rebound from its 1975-90 civil war.
- About 1,000 more cafes and restaurants could still close, while around 100 in central Beirut that cater to rich Gulf tourists now operate with reduced shifts, Ariss said.
AFP
20 comments:
A few of my own thoughts:
My personal experience from this war:
I served as a combat soldier in the IDF artillery forces. Although our unit didn’t cross the border into Lebanon in this war, we had our share of fighting. The intense heat, the sun burns, the bad food, the lack of sleep, the physical pain caused by lifting, moving and firing thousands of artillery shells, the constant explosions all day and all night, Katyusha rockets falling 300 feet from us, the fear of death, not seeing the wife and kids for weeks… It was better than what I’ve expected from war (mainly because the guys in my unit are great), but still… war looks much better with a bucket of popcorn in your hands…
Regarding the start of the war:
I guess a large operation against HA was planned a long time ago. The kidnapping was just the excuse needed by the IDF. Israel saw HA getting stronger on the other side of the border without being restrained by the Lebanese government. Over the last 6 years, from time to time, HA shot with small fire arms like AK-47 at border patrols and fired Katyusha rockets at Israeli towns, but it was always ‘small enough’ not to justify a serious military operation. At some point everybody here felt like ‘enough is enough’. You can pinch a giant for some time, but eventually he will step on your head. Sure, crushing your scull seems like a very inappropriate response to the last pinch…
Regarding the goals of the war:
If I remember correctly the first press meeting generated 3 goals set by Israel. Return the kidnapped soldiers home, stop rocket launches at Israeli cities and disarm HA. The first goal, I hope, will be achieved in a few weeks. The second one was of course achieved. The third goal… well… I guess it’s now up to the Lebanese people. The whole idea was that the military operation will leverage the diplomatic effort.
Regarding the Litani river goal:
I think this was just some bullshit goal set for the IDF (and Israeli public) so it would appear like some military goal has been achieved and a ceasefire can be declared. Everyone with a map can see that a Katyusha rocket with a range of 30-40 kilometres and beyond can be launched north of the river and still hit Israeli cities.
Regarding Lebanese civilian casualties:
When you are hitting civilians, all you do is score more negative points in the public eyes. We all saw the pictures. We were all shocked. We all felt sorry. No one in Israel went to the street celebrating like it’s done on Palestinian cities. I have been serving as a combat soldier in the IDF since 1993 and have fought in the current war, Lebanon, the west bank, the Gaza strip, and almost every Palestinian city in Israel. From my personal experience, the IDF never, I repeat, NEVER aims at innocent civilians and does its best to avoid hitting them. I can even say that many times it increases the risk to its own soldiers. Of course there can always be mistakes, but that’s all they are. Mistakes.
Regarding Israeli civilian casualties:
I’m sure that if you saw pictures of Israeli civilians and children hit by Katyusha rockets (or Palestinians suicide bombing) you would be shocked as all of us were from the Qana pictures. Although this could be used as a great propaganda, in Israel (as in other western countries) it is not done. It is called respect for the dead, and it is considered here more important than scoring points in the UN.
Regarding the future:
In the near future Israel will have to solve some issues with the Palestinians, Syria and Iran. Please handle HA. Thanks in advance.
hi Raja
I m reading the book, and it is very very intresting.
It depict the inner working of Hezballah and its organization. and explains the theolgical basics that governs it, shedding some light on the special relationship linking Hezbollah to Iran.
Peace
a weakened economy sux badly..
but a bogus economy built on a time-bomb can be even worse is the ticker isnt difused..
wishing you economic recovery and stability.. ultimately both are required for a sustainable future..
lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
raja
you should have a look to this link
http://www.lebanonundersiege.gov.lb/english/F/Info/Page.asp?PageID=129
i just have one remark, when we see the trend of the events, there was 1 million of displaced people before.
Umm, lebanese guys? Don't look now, but the Hezb'Allah represenatives don't look satisfied with the destruction.
They are refusing to return the two Israel soldiers...
Sure would be bad if the war was suddenly back ON again.
John Smith said "I guess a large operation against HA was planned a long time ago. The kidnapping was just the excuse needed by the IDF."
God Knows Best. still, i'm a bit confused why the Raja is against Hezbollah. i think the history itself should be looked into, & not just this particular month of war.
anyway, "women walking like black tents" can also describes not just some ME muslims. nuns wear black robes as well. beards also exist in other faiths. why do you hold against it? & Islamic Shariah is not anything as describe, just calling it as the veil & the beard etc is only your shallow perception. the Shariah is a just law for all. it is the best law.
lebanese confuses me.
Nisa,
Please don't use things I said out of context. HA is still the one to blame for this war.
Nisa,
I am happy we confuse you. I am proud we confuse you. I am exctatic we confuse you.
nuns wear black robes as well.
nisa, you might be unaware -- nuns are volunteers, and nobody beats or murders them for 'immodesty' or 'family honor' if they don't dress that way.
kindly excuse me. but nobody beats or murders muslim women singing & dancing on stage for 'immodesty' or 'family honor' like we're seeing now. i don't support the muslim singers showing cleavage i think they're doing sin. but nobody beats them -- they're even awarded as if role models.
the beating comes from where? it's not islamic. it's only misguided, shallow perceptions. & that is my point. the shariah is the best law, it's only people who misguide themselves about it. may God help me be understood.
anyway, if HA is at fault just because they capture 2 Israeli soldiers -- Israel had captured Palestinian government officials. theyr'e not even soldiers. they're democratically elected officials. & Israel are holding Arab prisoners. will anyone mention that.
or you just care for Israel.
well if Lebanese love Israel, then go welcome then in your state. if you cry being bombed to smitherenes, tell me why i should support you, since you think Israel is the good guys. i should've supported israel is it?
Hi,
i hope people can kindly check the history of the land. how was the land before zionism. Also, I'm pondering this video & Naturei Karta.
maybe you can go to http://www.nkusa.org/ or google jews against zionism.
shmulik,
the problem is NOT islamic fundamentalism. say an apple an apple, it's not a pear. people who doesn't go with islamic rules, are not anything islamic.
i hope people will kindly not make passages to link brutalities with islam. don't misguide people. do no evil. when women are beaten/murdered by men in the US, do you call it male fundemantalism?
or do you think i don't make sense, what is male fundamentalism. & so that is what i think of the word you used too. :)
hi shmulik & chuck,
excuse me too, thanks. still i never mentioned i believe i know the history of Israel/palestine/the land better than anybody. but God made me eyes, hearings & thinking. i read the history of Palestine since it's founded by the Philistines, then came the canaanites. from Abraham down to Jesus. from the many empires (yes, i read the jewish exiles), to muslim rule, to british occupation. then the immigration of jews to Palestine, the war & transplantation of the jewish state. & occupation of it's neighbours.
& yes I read about Naturei Karta. i'm sorry you discount their testament on your own basis. still i don't know how you judge, is only Israeli statement matters? as far as I think, even the UN consider Israeli occupation illegal.
it is illegal.
so i'm going with the most coherent, consistent side of teh story. God wills, i hope He Guides me to the truth. may Allah, the All Knower save the true people.
anyway, all i know is -- i don't call those who commit any vile acts as respresenting the whole muslim religion.
may Allah help us find truth, amen.
Only John Smith's [I am sure this is his pseudonym] comment here resembles some form of sanity.
Rest are emotive.
hi everyone,
as I said before, i read, listen & watch. there are many side of the story, & i take in views most coherent & consistent. Israelis can say what their view. still UN, scholars, Human Right org, NK etc, made theirs too. for me, you know the way i take in the views. all & all, God Wills if you are right may God help you. if others are right, may God help them. you can pray that too if you want.
& to be honest, your respond is not surprising. some has been noted & scholars has replied. others have replied.
in my own thinking, saying there are no palestine brings the whole issue like a house of cards. if anyone would care to remember, the longest & strongest rule of the land in history is, Muslim rule. for centuries. if you are true, that the land is always been Israel, then it makes the people of the land since the very beginning -- Israelis. so if they are Israelis, then, let them live with you. they're your brothers. :)
& historically, maybe even religiously, Israelis had been noted to went to live in Egypt. so who lived & rule the land, Philistine & Canaanites are times prior to Moses. not Israelis. you did live in the land, but it's not more special than any other local residents. in recent times, Jane Stillwater's blog mentioned her Israeli friend, "For hundreds of years, Muslims and Christians had lived - mostly - in peace in this village.. The Israeli army wanted to hide any evidence of destroying the village.. Other villages took us in but then they too were destroyed."
i can build many case against you. but sorry, the time is limited. :)
anyway, even if one says no village, no state. the people are there, the graves are there. anyone can try erasing history, but i'm taking views, as well rounded & wisely as i can. also, about UN. there could be more resolutions, if not vetoed by the US. Multiple times. UN peacekeepers have been striked, & you know what happened in UN.
still thanks if you say the occupation it's illegal. i hope Israel will respect it & move out from West Bank, Gaza & neighbouring parts. if you say the land was bought etc, still others have denied. i'm concluding based on views that are consistent, in this case with what happened next.
Israel is willing to give away territory for peace? The video I shared explains that. click it to see why.
& thanks chuck. :) alhamdulillah, i believe in shariah. i see no reason to deny. for the scarf, personally i think being modest is purer & benefits the whole society. if it's good for married woman, why not single girls?
God Knows Best. i'm sorry if i hurt anybody, or don't adress anyone personally. May God guide us to truth. thanks.
Hi all,
i'm sorry i didn't read all yet. time is flying. special for jewish lady, hi! :) do you have a great time in Malaysia? i don't know why people said what they say, but honestly, i'm not anywhere being angry. i've been more hurt in my sister's blog. in fact if it doesn't sound so bad, maybe to people under siege (i'm sorry), i actually feelt pretty good right now. all Glory to Allah, life is great. :D
anyway, i know jews. the Quran documents the Children of Israel. plus the encyclopedia, internet, tv, search engine, programmers, blogs, etc. there's no base at all to not to know. although, if you ask, i must admit i never knowingly met a Jew. but i never met an Eskimo either. but encyclopedias teach about Jewish traditions etc. although the same encyclopedia states muslims do nothing in Ramadhan. :P so i understand the need to sift information.
so for me i simply state the side of the story i believe is most consistent & coherent. i hope i don't want to iterate that many times. you can say have your say, still others have theirs too.
may God guides us to truth. :)
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