War Over? Ongoing Crisis in Lebanon

IMC UK | 16.08.2006 12:42 | Lebanon War 2006 | Anti-militarism | World

While the recently agreed-on 'ceasefire' between Isael and Hizbullah is being portrayed in most of the mainstream media coverage as an end to the 'crisis', the catastrophic cosequences of the hostilities, which lasted for over a month, go underreported. And while fighting on a much smaller scale conitnues, hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese are making their way back, many to find their homes destroyed by Israeli bombs.

In a flagrant breach of the ceasefire, Israeli warplanes and helicopters launched fresh raids in eastern Lebanon on 19th August.

According to official figures, some 1,130 people have been slaughtered (30% of them children), 3,600 injured (40% of them children) and about a million displaced. Omar Nachabe has reported 1,700 confirmed dead so far, over 3,000 injured. Israeli strikes on Lebanon have destroyed much of the country's infrastructure, including Beirut airport, ports, bridges and roads, residential buildings, factories, mobile telephone and television stations, fuel containers and service stations and even medical and relief trucks.

Meanwhile, Israel is still denying NGOs like Medecins sans Frontieres and the Red Cross a safe passage. On 15 August, an activist aid convoy was stopped by the Lebanese National Security Guards while trying to reach the South, as the area is still declared unsafe.

Ongoing coverage: Lebanon War 2006 - topic page

Upcoming: Sack Parliament, Stop their wars | 9th of October, Houses of Parliament

Protest reports: Blockade the Foreign Office, London 21st August | quick report | personal accounts and pics | video.

Previous features: The realm of the real - photography from Lebanon | Mass Demo Against Israeli Attacks | Worldwide Protests Against Israeli Aggression | War in the Middle East While the World is Watching

IMC UK

Additions

The role of the UK

09.08.2006 09:11

Beyond the UK's tacit support for the Israeli aggression, it is believed the UK is giving logistic support by allowing the use of it's airbase (notably Preswick and Bryze Norton) for refuelling US armament planes bound to Israel. On three occasions already citizen weapon's inspectors have been arrested by the police after breaking in to Preswick airport to investigate whether some US planes are carrying armament to Israel. (See

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/08/347102.html ;

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/08/347142.html and

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/08/347190.html )

There are planned demonstrations at Bryze Norton Wednesday 09th of August and Saturday 12th of August (see

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/08/347317.html )

doze

quick early report on foreign office blockade this morning

21.08.2006 20:59

clowns, samba and lebanese dancers took part in a blockade of the foreign office in king charles street this morning. their theme was 'bringing the war home" and they were hoping to disrupt the workings of the war machine for a while

around 100 activists turned up with an impressively large banner at 8am this morning - yes anarchists can get up early!!.

despite a huge police presence, they managed to enter king charles street, and the clowns staged an excellent die-in before being arrested for 'suspected criminal damage' (thought to be the washable fake blood they spilt on the pavement). some fake blood was also spattered across one of the the doorways of the foreign office. another person was arrested 'for sitting on the pavement'.

currently (9.45am) around forty protesters are penned in by large numbers of cops including tsg (tactical support group / thugs), and it is thought they are all likely to be arrested for 'participating in an unauthorised demonstration in the designated zone' (socpa) and police are trying to find enough cell space.

itn news were there so there should be some media coverage at least on local london news at lunchtime. the demonstrators were entirely peaceful throughout (doh - it's an anti-war demo - geddit!). although police were heard to claim they were holding people because of a risk of 'serious public disorder').

rikki

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