Update from Beirut
Beirut Airport blast (15 July)
Israeli war planes are continuing to bomb the city. I am writing from the Hamra district of Beirut, where there are increasing numbers of refugees fleeing from the southern suburbs and the south of the country. Throughout the day, Israeli warplanes have hit the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The civilian death toll is on the rise, with official Lebanese government estimates at over 70 at this point, although I would imagine the unofficial estimate is much larger…. Today a bus carrying refugees from the south was hit just outside a village which had been bombed by the Israeli’s within recent days. It was clear that the bus was targeted. Over 15 people lost their lives…. I understand that this incident is being mentioned in the international press; however, we must remember that this is one incident of many within the last 48 hours. The bombings have been indiscriminate….
As I write this, I can hear a huge explosion & the sounds of airplanes in the skies….
I am going tonight to interview & document the realities of the refugees fleeing from the southern suburbs into central Beirut. Local activists in the Hamra area are attempting to assist in finding safe housing for the refugees.
At 3am this morning, when walking with a friend in the street, I saw a caravan of refugees coming into central Beirut, I would image either from the southern part of the country or from the southern suburbs of Beirut.
With this article I am posting a photo which a friend took in the southern suburbs of Beirut. In it you can see the smoke from the Beirut International Airport after it had been hit by Israeli bombs.
What must be made clear is that Israel is targeting civilians & is targeting the civilian infrastructure of the country, this is without doubt…. It is really unbelievable to me that the current Lebanese government & the current Prime Minister have simply complained to the U.N., while making a phone call to U.S. President Bush. That’s it, that’s all. I can’t believe it – civilians of Lebanon are dying and this is all the government can do….?
Anyhow…. I think that the power will cut soon, so I will stop writing now…. Hopefully I will write again tonight….
ALSO please check out the Electronic Lebanon project that has just been launched, it’s online at: http://electroniclebanon.net. Members of Tadamon! are posting their reflections, experiences & thoughts in a more formal way on that website ….
Throughout the coming days, members of Tadamon! in Beirut will continue posting to this website, as a kind of weblog. I am not certain if I will stay in the country given the situation – although perhaps now there is no choice because Israel has bombed all the major highway transportation routs to Syria! We are under a sea, air & land blockade in Beirut.
All the best to those reading….
– Stefan, in Beirut.
URGENT RELEASE: CALL FOR DEMONSTRATION SUNDAY JULY 16, 11AM – PEEL AND RENE LEVESQUE
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – In the past 96 hours, the Israeli assault has killed 92 civilians in Lebanon, tens of who were children and 252 injuries.
We cannot remain silent as Israel continues down the path toward a catastrophe in which hundreds innocent people more will be killed and forcibly expelled from their homes and lands.
Major concerns:
1. We call on the Canadian government to issue a stern warning to Israel to halt its military assault against Lebanon and to desist from any plans to invade the country.
Comment by Malek — July 15th, 2006 @ 1:04 PM2. We strongly condemn the pro-Israel position of the Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
3. We call on the Canadian government to make plans to evacuate their nationals from Lebanon.
Stef,
[in case you didn’t get my last email]
let me know if there’s anything i can do to help.
hey bug,
mike
Comment by Mike [melpomene] — July 16th, 2006 @ 9:56 PMPour le 6ième jour, le génocide Israélien continue. Hier même, 8 citoyens Canadiens ont été brutalement massacrés par les bombardiers israéliens. En ce moment crucial dans notre vie, il est important de protester contre la position honteuse de M. Harper, et de montrer à notre gouvernement que le sang Libanais est aussi précieux que le sang Israélien. Nous prions tous les Libanais, nos confrères Arabes, et tous les amis parmi nos concitoyens Canadiens au Québec, de se présenter massivement à la prochaine manifestation à Montréal ce mardi 17h au Square Dorchester. Les résidents des autres provinces sont priés de se manifester ailleurs au pays. Votre présence symbolique sera un grand soutien psychologique et moral à nos résistants et à la population civile qui souffre et, malheureusement, va continuer à payer le prix du silence international aux crimes contre l’humanité que commet Israël.
Comment by Hisham SAADI — July 17th, 2006 @ 1:48 AM