Tag: lebanon

Solidarity demos

Kefaya has called for a demonstration in support of the Lebanese resistance tomorrow Friday, 11 August, in Zagazig, capital of Sharqiya governorate. The demonstration will take place following the Friday prayers at Al-Nahda Mosque, in front of the Zagazig Security Directorate.

Kefaya is also organizing a children’s march on the same day in Damanhour, capital of the Beheira governorate, to express solidarity with the Lebanese children. The march will start from the Al-Hassan And Al-Hussein Mosque, following the Friday prayers.

On Saturday, 12 August, the Hilaly Association for Defense of Civil Liberities has called for a demo in solidarity with Lebanon and Palestine, 12 noon, in front of the Lawyers’ Syndicate in Ramses Street. The Hilaly Association–headed by veteran leftist lawyers Ahmad Seif and Mohssen Shasha–was formed during Marxist lawyer Ahmad Nabil el-Hilaly‘s last July memorial. It includes rights lawyers from the left, Nasserists and Islamists.

Activism Calendar

Li-Beirut: Cairo activists needed for solidarity campaign

Passing on an appeal for Cairo-based activists wishing to join a solidarity campaign for Lebanon:

A group of energetic activists in Cairo have started campaigning in solidarity with Lebanon. They’re doing many activities and more are to come (see below). This effort is significant and plans to go on for months, way after TV viewers become normalized about the daily death of victims of yet another Arab country. Now that hopes are diminishing by the second that the aggression against Lebanon won’t end anytime soon. They need volunteers to help them organize the many creative ideas they’re coming up with. Those of you who would like to contribute, please email Mohammed Yousri at moyousri – AT – gmail.com

Li-Beirut is a solidarity campaign initiated by a team of independent artists and activists based in Cairo in support of the victims of the brutal aggression against Lebanon.

Li-Beirut is comprised of a series of cultural and artistic events and an interactive online platform aimed at encouraging worldwide solidarity, support and donations for the victims of the Israeli war on Lebanon.

Li-Beirut cultural and artistic series will include music concerts, film screenings, poetry readings, book signings, exhibitions and a number of satellite events organized by partner groups.

Li-Beirut.com is hosted under the umbrella of a regional Arabic portal, Filbalad.com, and is an on-going initiative to raise awareness and mobilize support for Lebanon.

Incidentally, their name, Li-Beirut, comes from a famous song by the Lebanese diva Fairouz. It has been playing a lot in Egypt lately, including at the premium number set up by MobiNil and Vodafone Egypt (1410) to raise funds for Lebanese relief efforts. I’m making the song available here for anyone who wants to listen to it.

Appeal for donations to Lebanon

Passing on an appeal for donations of food, medicine and other goods for Egyptians and residents of Egypt who want to help the Lebanese people:

Dear all,
 
The Lebanese Embassy in Cairo and the Lebanese Egyptian Friendship Society are joining efforts to collect and send medical supplies and food. In kind donation only. (Please see list below)
Continue reading Appeal for donations to Lebanon

Campaign of civil resistance in Lebanon

Have received this:

Lebanon: An Open Country for Civil Resistance Beirut August 7, 2006

On August 12, at 7 am, Lebanese from throughout the country and international supporters who have come to Lebanon to express solidarity will gather in Martyr’s Square in Beirut to form a civilian convoy to the south of Lebanon. Hundreds of Lebanese and international civilians will express their solidarity with the inhabitants of the heavily destroyed south who have been bravely withstanding the assault of the Israeli military. This campaign is endorsed by more than 200 Lebanese and international organizations. This growing coalition of national and international non-governmental organizations hereby launches a campaign of civil resistance for the purpose of challenging the cruel and ruthless use of massive military force by Israel, the regional superpower, upon the people of Lebanon.

Continue reading Campaign of civil resistance in Lebanon

Fisk on the UN’s draft resolution on Lebanon

Robert Fisk on how the draft resolution is essentially an Israeli one:

You could almost hear the Lebanese groan at this draft resolution, a document of such bias and mendacity that a close Lebanese friend read carefully through it yesterday, cursed and uttered the immortal question: “Don’t these bastards learn anything from history?”

Gamal in Lebanon

Look at how the Egyptian government is scurrying to face public outrage over its stance on this conflict:

An Egyptian military flight arrived in Beirut Tuesday carrying relief aid and 70 officials and public figures _ including President Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal _ who joined the trip to express their support for war-torn Lebanon. Egypt’s ministers of information, health, and industry and foreign trade; the leaders of several minor opposition parties, and top actors departed Cairo for a visit of several hours to deliver medical supplies to Lebanon and visit the wounded at hospitals. The Egyptian delegation was scheduled to meet Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Parliament speaker Nabih Berri.

Update: Here’s a lengthier Haaretz story.

Hizbullah’s military prowess

Interesting story in the WaPo on Israeli soldiers’ perception of Hizbullah:

“You really can’t underestimate the Hezbollah,” said Tyler, 20, a member of the army’s Nahal Brigade. “They are the masters of the field. They know the area better than us. They know where to hide and when to move. They always know where we are.”

It’s shock-full of quotes like the one above that make Hizbullah soldiers sound like an army of Rambos. There’s a myth of invincibility being created that’s going to live way beyond this war and that probably gives an exaggerated view of what Hizbullah is capable of, which is really not that much — it’s just that the Israelis have not fought such a competent guerrilla group before.