Key Points from the Interview:
1. Ongoing Conflict and Casualties: Israel's bombardment of Lebanon has displaced about 500,000 people. On Wednesday alone, 72 people were killed, bringing the death toll in recent days to over 620. Israel has rejected an international call for a 21-day ceasefire.
Mahdi Amel, who was a Marxist intellectual. And he wrote this a few months after the 1982 invasion of Beirut. And he writes:
"They said that the war in Lebanon would be swift and that in a few days those who have not knelt and who understand only the language of force would kneel. They declared that there would be no salaam, but shalom, and that Israel is the Rome of our modern times. To the kings of Israel, to the scum of our nation and our foul Arab regimes, to the petty fascists and to their imperialist masters, we say: It pleases us to spit in your faces. We will fight you even with our nails. Our fists are the compass of history. And the bullet of our freedom will pierce your hearts. To them, we say, brick by brick, we build a world on your graves. You are the dustbin of history, and Beirut is the city of the free. We have vowed that we will resist you.”
"They said that the war in Lebanon would be swift and that in a few days those who have not knelt and who understand only the language of force would kneel. They declared that there would be no salaam, but shalom, and that Israel is the Rome of our modern times. To the kings of Israel, to the scum of our nation and our foul Arab regimes, to the petty fascists and to their imperialist masters, we say: It pleases us to spit in your faces. We will fight you even with our nails. Our fists are the compass of history. And the bullet of our freedom will pierce your hearts. To them, we say, brick by brick, we build a world on your graves. You are the dustbin of history, and Beirut is the city of the free. We have vowed that we will resist you.”
2. Possible Ground Invasion:
Israel is preparing for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon, having deployed two brigades to the Lebanese border.
3. Widespread Suffering:
3. Widespread Suffering:
Journalist Lara Bitar, based in Beirut, reports on the extreme hardships faced by displaced people, especially the elderly, who have endured previous invasions. Despite the suffering, there is a strong attachment to the land.
4. Historical Context:
4. Historical Context:
Bitar highlights Israel’s repeated invasions and occupations of Lebanon, referencing invasions in 1978, 1982, and 2006. She emphasizes that the current violence is part of a long history of Israeli aggression in the region.
5. Ceasefire Skepticism:
5. Ceasefire Skepticism:
Bitar expresses deep skepticism about the potential for a ceasefire, citing past broken promises and the failure of the Biden administration to follow through on red lines in Gaza.
6. Hezbollah's Response:
6. Hezbollah's Response:
Hezbollah, so far, has tried to de-escalate the situation, targeting military infrastructure rather than civilians. Bitar suggests that an Israeli ground invasion would be deeply traumatizing for Israeli soldiers.
7. UN Resolutions:
7. UN Resolutions:
U.N. Resolutions 1701 and 1559, meant to address peace and security in Lebanon, are regularly violated by Israel. The Lebanese population does not place much faith in international resolutions or the U.N. Security Council.
8. Global Responsibility:
8. Global Responsibility:
Bitar argues that global citizens should act by boycotting and divesting from Israel. She believes international pressure is necessary to make Israel's actions too costly to continue.
9. International Manipulation:
9. International Manipulation:
Bitar is critical of the U.S. and other Western nations, accusing them of manipulating public opinion and failing to take serious steps toward achieving a ceasefire. She questions the sincerity of U.S. diplomatic efforts.
10. Call for Global Action:
10. Call for Global Action:
In her closing remarks, Bitar calls for grassroots action, urging people worldwidesà to pressure their governments and institutions to isolate Israel economically and diplomatically to end the violence.
Source:
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/9/26/lebanon_israel_hezbollah_ceasefire
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