This article appeared in Beirut's newspaper before Israel's retaliation began. Lebanese Muslims were
rejoicing and celebrating the capture of the two Israelis.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=73926#
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Lebanese greet capture of 2 Israeli troops with spontaneous celebration
But some fear dire repercussions
By Leila Hatoum
Daily Star staff
BEIRUT: Thousands of Hizbullah supporters took to the streets on Wednesday to celebrate the capture of two Israeli soldiers, setting off fireworks and honking car horns throughout Shiite-dominated areas in the South, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut's southern suburbs.
Fireworks blended with gunfire in the suburbs and the nearby Bourj al-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camp, which were draped in Hizbullah's signature yellow flags with a smattering of Amal Movement green, as supporters paraded by car, bicycle, mini-van and on foot.
Abu Ali Moqdad, 62, said he joined the spontaneous demonstration "to show support for the resistance and to celebrate the morning's victory."
Moqdad told The Daily Star that as long as the Israelis continue to threaten Lebanon, "we have the right to make them live in fear and under threat as well."
Hajja Nabiha Abbas, 57, who is originally from the South but now lives in the southern suburbs, stood on the side of the road and ululated and clapped for the young men and boys who were lighting fireworks.
"May God bless [the resistance fighters'] souls and protect them; may they capture more Israelis to show them that we can fight for our land, and we are efficient in doing so," she said.
Some celebrations threatened to turn violent as automatic-weapons fire forced several residents to stay home for fear of stray bullets.
"People can celebrate all they want, but must not harm others," said Afaf, a housewife who was only prepared to give her first name. "The noise of fireworks is very disturbing, especially since I have two small children. This all reminds me of the days of war when people held guns and used to shoot in the air for no reason and other innocent civilians would get hurt from the stray bullets."
Not everyone was celebrating. Mahmoud Qassem said he feared that "the worst might happen with Israel's retaliation."
"We rejoice now, and after that, then what? Everyone is busy celebrating the capture of the two soldiers, but what will happen when Israel decides to heavily attack us?" he asked.
"Apparently the Lebanese have forgotten the Israeli air strikes and 'Grapes of Wrath' attacks in April 1996, which killed hundreds of Lebanese and injured hundreds more," Qassem added.
Even in the South, which initially welcomed the news, a Daily Star correspondent noted that the morning celebrations "turned into worry and fear among the residents afterward." - Additional reporting by Mohammed Zaatari
Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Star
Quote from steve46:
Today the Israeli troops continue to kick the crap out of King Nasturium and his Hezbollah lesbians.
Really it is too bad when you consider that the whole thing happened because some idiots decided to kidnap two Israeli soldiers.
Now most of Beirut is in shambles. I wonder if the average Lebanese person knows that their country was sacrificed for this purpose?
