Naharnet Newsdesk - Southerners Obsessed by New Conflict with Israel

			Welcome
English

Lebanon

Southerners Obsessed by New Conflict with Israel
In the southern Lebanese village of al-Hallousiyeh which suffered heavy destruction during the 2006 war between Hizbullah and Israel, Hassan busies himself digging a shelter in the mountainside.
In another village nearby, Iman is desperate for a visa to any country that will grant her one.

They are among many residents across south Lebanon fearful of a new conflict following the vitriol unleashed on the Jewish state in recent days by the head of Hizbullah and its ally Iran.

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah declared "open war" on Israel following the killing of one of its top militants last week, while Iran stepped up its rhetoric against Israel after his death.

The threats have sent jitters across Lebanon.

The fear is worst in villages in the south where residents have barely recovered from the 34-day war that killed more than 1,200 civilians in Lebanon, a third of them children, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

"Since the last war, I have been living on anti-depressants," said Iman, 51, whose home near the coastal city of Tyre was bombed during the war.

"And after the latest threats made by Nasrallah, I have been trying to get a visa to any country that will take me. There is nowhere to hide and I can't take this anymore."

In another village southeast of Tyre that was heavily bombed by Israeli warplanes during the war, Mohammed Balhass, 23, is expecting the worst.

"Nasrallah would not have spoken of open war if Hizbullah couldn't stand its ground against Israel," he told AFP. "But, unfortunately, we are the ones who always pay the price."

"We have barely recovered from the 2006 war and if there is another conflict today, who is going to help us?" questioned Mohammed Srour, 49, from the border village of Aita-ash Shaab.

"This is all a game between the major powers and we are helpless in the face of all this," he added, raising his hands to the sky.

Villagers near the disputed Shebaa Farms, located on the Israel-Lebanon-Syria border, were also wary.

"Why must we pay the price every four years or so," lamented Hussein Yahia, 75, a shepherd who lost his herd during the war along with the homes of three of his brothers. "They should leave us to live in peace, wars are no longer acceptable."

Ghassem al-Zahr, a farmer, said he lost his entire crop during the July-August 2006 conflict and was not willing to go through a repeat. "That war took us 100 years back. It's enough," he said.

But despite the destruction and misery wrought by the war in a region that was poverty-stricken even before the conflict, some are still willing to pay a heavy price for the sake of "resistance."

"I don't like war but everything is allowed when it comes to the resistance," said Ali Ksheish from the village of Khiam.

In the town of Marjayoun, Mohammed Yassin has yet to finish rebuilding his home destroyed in 2006 but that is not important. "We're all behind Nasrallah because nothing but force will stop Israel," said the 38-year-old electrician.

Some, like Suleiman Muhieddin, whose Tyre home was also destroyed by Israeli bombardments, are taking the new threats of war with a grain of salt.

"After listening to Nasrallah's speech in which he threatened open war, I put down all my tools," he said. "I figured that in the event of a new war, they could just compensate me in one go for both conflicts."(AFP)

Beirut, 21 Feb 08, 19:35


Your Comments


You Make the News

Cast Your Comments on this Article
View & Recommend Readers' Comments

Other Headlines

Khalife Clarifies Previous Statement: Ethiopian Plane 'Explosion' Not Necessarily Sabotage Act

Separate St. Maroun Celebrations in Beirut and Brad, Sfeir Says Maronite Church Keen on Coexistence

Spanish King Inspects U.N. Troops in South Lebanon

Jumblat Expresses Regret at 'Offensive Words' against Syrian People, Leadership

Hariri Convinced with Syrian Clarifications on Assad's Remarks

Struger: The Situation is Calm, All Sides Cooperating with UNIFIL

Murr Kicks of Talks with U.S. Officials

Army Arrests Majzoub's Uncle

Suleiman to Spain's King: Lebanon, UNIFIL Facing Dangerous Israeli Threats

Saudi Government Urges International Response to Israeli Threats Against Lebanon, Syria

U.S. Congressman Involved in Deployment of U.S. Marines in Beirut Dies

Phalange Party: Assad's Remarks 'a Second Message' after Abu Moussa's

Jumblat: Leave the Issue of Feb. 14 Rally Participation to Last Minute

Sfeir in Lent Message: Maronite Presence is Based on Covenant, We Ask for No One's Guarantees

Quarrel at Manara Fishermen Port: Mashnouq Denies Being Beaten, Aridi Declines to Comment

Recovered Black Box Could Tell Story of Ethiopian Plane Crash

Assad to Berri: Syria will Support Lebanon if Israel Attacks

Black Box Retrieved 14 Days after Ethiopian Plane Crash

Filipina House Worker Murders Employer's Sister with Kitchen Knife

Rifi in Damascus as March 14 Adapts to New Phase

Assad to Berri: We Support Lebanon and Its Stability

Aoun: Lebanese Refugees in Israel is a Pressing Issue, Not All of Them are Spies

Survey: Mixed View of Hizbullah in Muslim Countries

Western Diplomat Rules Out Israeli War on Lebanon

Mustaqbal Doubts Authenticity of Remarks Attributed to Assad, Hariri Calls Assad

Aridi: Black Boxes Located under the Ethiopian Plane's Tail

European Official: Lebanon is Safe from Israeli Attacks during Next 3 Months

Sfeir Sends Jumblat Message

Qassem Rules Out War but Says Hizbullah Should be Ready

Jumblat Concerned over New Israeli War, Describes Situation as Madness

Hizbullah Cadres on Alert

U.S. Concern over Alleged Arms Smuggling, Repetition of 2006 Scenario

Suleiman Consulting with Officials on Reviving National Dialogue

International Review of UNIFIL Structure Amid Denial to Downsize it

Gilad: Israel's Anti-Missile System to Remain on Lebanon's Front

Jumblat Snaps Back at Lieberman: We Are with Syrian People, Leadership Above All Else

Sfeir: Possibilities of War Exist as Long as Hizbullah Wants to Play State Role

Cassese: Hariri Case Highly Complex

Suleiman: Lebanese Democratic System Among the Best in the World

Interior Ministry, USAID Sign MOU on Technical Support for Municipal Elections

Wahab Accuses Arslan of Murder Attempt, Tells Him Gone is Era of Dinosaurs

Army, Lebanese Forces at Loggerheads Over Alleged Torture of Minor

Geagea: March 14 will Carry On until Cedar Revolution Goals are Achieved

Libya Expects Suleiman to Participate in Arab Summit Despite Shiite Ire

Moussa: Fragile Mideast Situation Could Reflect on Lebanon

Agreement to Stop News Leaks on Dar al-Fatwa

Assad: Civil War in Lebanon Could Start in Days unless They Change the Whole System

Names of Lebanese Passengers Released from Plane Crash


Other Categories

Editorials
SpecialReports
Middle East
The World
Interview
Away From Politics
Lebanon Business
World Business
Culture
Lebanon Sports
World Sports
Technology
Health
Fringe


Comments

Please wait while we load the comments

Click to Comment
Recommend Readers' Comments to Promote Their Views