Posted on 08/18/2006 12:38:53 PM PDT by okiedog
South Lebanon Christians bitter over Israeli attack
QLAIAH, Lebanon: Ever since a truce between Israel and Hizbollah took hold this week, Boulos Abu Hamad and his family have been cleaning up the damage they say was left by Israeli troops who occupied their home for a night.
Their properties have only been moderately affected compared to the devastation of nearby Shi’ite Muslim towns, but residents of some Christian areas in southern Lebanon are just as angry with the Israelis.
“We are Maronite Christians. We are neither with Israel nor with Hizbollah nor with any other party so why did they do this to us?” said Abu Hamad’s wife, breaking into tears.
“Their troops came and ruined the bedroom furniture. We threw out the clothes I bought for my sister’s wedding because they ruined them and sacked the drawers and cupboards. They left nothing intact. Even their dogs left mess in the house.”
Many Lebanese Christians, Sunni Muslims and Druze have criticised Hizbollah for touching off the war by capturing two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12.
But they are also furious with Israel’s devastating response, which killed at least 1,100 people in Lebanon. One hundred and fifty-seven Israelis were killed in the conflict.
When Israeli troops invaded Lebanon last week and occupied the Christian villages of Marjayoun and Qlaiah — once home to the defunct pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army militia — they went from house to house, locals say, hammering down doors, breaking glass and trashing the contents for no reason they could fathom.
Soldiers took up positions in the neighbouring villages, entering and leaving residential areas after imposing a curfew.
Barely a shot was fired from Qlaiah, which was occupied by Israel until 2000, at Israeli infantry that advanced from the border to Christian towns around Aug. 10. Villagers say Hizbollah did not fight from among them.
No one thought the area would come under attack, and in comparison to nearby Hizbollah strongholds where houses and shops have been completely flattened, it has not.
A few buildings in the picturesque cobbled square of Marjayoun had been hit, apparently after some shots were fired at advancing Israeli troops.
Israeli soldiers also entered Marjayoun barracks and the town hall, their tanks crumpling or flattening the cars parked outside it and leaving imprints on the tarmac.
A peek through the padlocked gate into a clinic in Qlaiah reveals white doctors’ coats hanging up and a table of medical tools nearby, surrounded by broken glass and metal.
Glass litters a nearby optician’s and dental clinic, where neighbours say medical equipment has been damaged.
“May God not bring them fortune,” said one resident surveying the damage. “It is disgusting,” agreed another.
"Those who lie down with dogs, get up with fleas."
Sounds like some pretty trivial stuff these folks are whining about to me.
I doubt you would think getting your own home blown up was "trivial".
"When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled." old African proverb..............
Who said the home got blown up? Did you read the article?
Wrong. You ARE with Hezbollah. You need to solve that problem first.
***********
It was disproportionate!
Oh, so you were going to remain "neutral" while Muslims fired rockets from the house next door at another country. As long as your clan kept their head down, and didn't interfere with an armed terrorist group using your 'hood as a staging ground, you figured it would be cool?
Interesting from Wikipedia
Famous Maronites
Kalil Gibran, philosopher
Carlos Ghosn, CEO Nissan
Elie Saab, fashion designer
Danny Thomas, actor, philanthropist
Marlo Thomas, actress, philanthropist
Ralph Nader, politician, lobbyist
Paul Anka, singer
Toni shalhoub, actor
Kathy Njeimy, actress
Salma Hayek, actress,
Abraham Spencer, politician
Philip Habib, diplomat
Amin al-Rayhani, poet
Mario Kassar, filmmaker
Elie Samaha, filmmaker
Joe Lahoud, baseball player
Dr. Ray Irani, businessman
James Zoghby, activist
George Maloof Jr., entrepreneur
Paul Jabara, composer
Callie Khourie, screenwriter
Octavia E. Nasr, CNN Editor
Anthony Shadid, Pulitzer Prize reporter
Michael Sallah, Pulitzer Prize reporter
and many, many more....
Smart "Lebanese Christians" knew that they lost their country over 20 years ago. I know many who got out and are glad they did.
For those that couldn't leave, I'm truly sorry. Ask you moose-lim neighbors why 155mm arty and 500lb Rockeyes are raining down on your heads.
I stand corrected.
The Hezbullies were intentionally staying in Christian villages, weren't they? Where is the outrage with them?
Maybe you better ally yourselves with Israel
Be careful who you elect into the government next time.
Kalil Gibran??
One of the problems is that, 20 years ago, when Israel abruptly abandoned Lebanon, it unceremoniously dumped the Christian militias that were fighting for it. There is a lot of resentment about this and I think much of the Christians' inability to trust Israel comes from the fact that they feel they were betrayed once before for the short-term political goals of Israel. This was not a good strategy for Israel. But Israel's retreats are never a good strategy for it, even though at the time they may be politcally expedient.
I think it mentioned Hezbollah homes being blown up, not their homes.
Because you failed to do the job yourself when you should have.
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