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Friday July 21 2006

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Sean Smith's photographs: refugees in Lebanon

Award-winning Guardian photographer Sean Smith has sent these photographs of people caught up in the conflict in Lebanon. You can see Sean's earlier photographs of Beirut here, and we've a collection of Dan Chung's photographs of evacuees leaving Lebanon.

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Refugees with foreign passports are evacuated from Tyre by British UN soldiers.

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French nationals board a ferry as they are evacuated by ship from Beirut.

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A woman injured in the bombing of Tyre in southern Lebanon is moved to the city's main hospital.

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A family wait to be evacuated from Tyre.

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Refugees pray as they prepare to be evacuated from Tyre.

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Refugees prepare to leave Tyre.

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A woman injured in bombing is treated in the main hospital in Tyre.

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Refugees prepare to be evacuated from Tyre by French soldiers.

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Refugees preparing to be evacuated from Tyre by French UN soldiers.

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People queue for bread in Tyre.

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People leave Tyre by bus, headed for Beirut.

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An elderly couple left behind by the evacuation of Tyre and now stuck in the Rest House hotel deserted by the UN.

Contemporaria

This post was last changed at 03:28 PM, July 21 2006, at a time when the top headline on Guardian Unlimited was unavailable, and the top headline from the BBC was Israel calls up army reservists, and there were posts elsewhere tagged with these same keywords:



The post was written by Sheila Pulham. You can email the author at sheila.pulham@guardian.co.uk

Comments

renepaul

perhaps if the west stops setting up puppet governments in muslim lands with the single intent to control their resources muslims would not attack western interests. Perhaps you should look at the conflict zones and you will see it is all about oil. The moral high ground so rightously claimed by the west stinks to high heaven with hypocricy.

Posted by MTS1 on July 21, 2006 06:45 PM.
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what the hell are you talking about. Israel is not about OIL....Its about leaving innocent ISraeli citizens alone so they can live their lives without being taken over by the religious fanatics.

My god, get real!

Posted by renepaul on July 21, 2006 07:41 PM.
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what the hell are you talking about. Israel is not about OIL....Its about leaving innocent ISraeli citizens alone so they can live their lives without being taken over by the religious fanatics.

My god, get real!
Posted by renepaul on July 21, 2006 07:41 PM.

you are correct its not directly about oil but it is about oil pipelines ..

it is more importantly about water (litani river is very important asset) and the rich farmlands.

it is about dispossessing the people who have a right to return.

its also about 2 men , one who hears gods voice telling him what to do and the other seeking the hand of history on his shoulder.

Posted by nologo on July 21, 2006 09:01 PM.
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...interesting that some of above comments condemning followers of Islam as fundamentalists seem to come from an extremist religious intolerance perspective...

Posted by Clackers on July 21, 2006 11:05 PM.
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I agree, Clackers. It's the followers of one or two brands of fundamentalist crackpot religions (Christianity and Judaism) slagging off the followers of a similar late-comer. This conflict will not go until mankind has the bravery to stand tall without leaning on the coward's crutch - religion. It will not end until we recognize a brotherhood to humanity, regardless of what fairy tale you choose to believe is real. It's right wingers versus right wingers and, as usual, civilians get in the way and lose their lives.

The sadness here is with those who are blind to the certain moral equivalence. A Christian or Jewish life is not worth more than an Islamic life. Taking a life is wrong, regardless of the motives. Defense might sound like a legitimate reason, that's why the word is chosen. It's spin. Here in the US we used to have the Department of War, nowdays we call it the Department of Defense. Sounds nicer doesn't it? Killing in self defense allows the killers (and their apologists) to sidestep the moral responsibility of their actions. Two wrongs don't make a right, terrorists committing heinous crimes shouldn't be given the encouragement of legitimate armies committing heinous crimes.

Naive? Perhaps. At least I'm not an apologist for murderers.

Posted by jigen on July 21, 2006 11:22 PM.
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nitedude if you really want to understand jihad then take a look here.

http://dhimmi-world.blogspot.com/

if you just want to present a misrepresentation of history you can stick to your link.

Posted by nologo on July 21, 2006 11:33 PM.
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renepaul -

a simple question, what is israel guilty of - if anything?

Posted by nologo on July 21, 2006 11:34 PM.
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jigen,

This is the most sensible and accurate comment I've read in the blogosphere. No human life is worth more than any other human life, whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, white, black, rich, poor, male, female, healthy, unhealthy, young or old.

Posted by quecromos on July 21, 2006 11:36 PM.
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if terrorism is the deliberate targeting of civilians.

then why hasnt blair been charged under the glorification of terror laws?

Posted by nologo on July 22, 2006 01:27 PM.
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this just has to be shared

http://www.bbdo.co.uk/blog/archives/106

Posted by nologo on July 22, 2006 02:16 PM.
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With such ideas like the one below, can it is the israelis that terrorise and kill innocent people. Palastinians are resisting illegal occupation.

"Israel may have the right to put others on trial, but certainly no one has the right to put the Jewish people and the State of Israel on trial."

-- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 25 March, 2001 quoted in BBC News Online

Posted by truth99 on July 22, 2006 07:04 PM.
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"Pray" not "prey," please, under the fifth photograph.

Posted by MichaelLane on July 22, 2006 09:04 PM.
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It is a shame that the Guardian is deleting comments - but at least it is better than the BBC 'Have Your Say', which only seem to show comments that are either for Israel, or that show 'extremists view' which also help the Israeli cause as it shows that there are evil people out there who dislike Israel.

I once posted a really harsh comment against Israel (saying it should be wiped off the map), and immediately it was shown - obviously because it shows that there are evil and dangerous people, i mean TERRORISTS (since anyone blaming Israel for anything is known as a terrorist - this is the new definition of the word) out there who wish for the destruction for that poor country which is trying so hard to defend itself from those evil, land-grabbing Arabs.

The next day I posted a moderate comment (about how the only way for there to be peace is to impose sanctions on Israel), and guess what?? It wasn't shown. It wasn't evil enough, or sympathetic enough.

I'm not defending The Guardian, but its a whole lot better than the BBC whose blatant biased reporting has gone beyond ridiculous. Anyone following the BBC news will think that Hizbullah has killed 300 women and children (because that?s what terrorists do), while poor Israel is doing the best it can to rescue the 2 soldiers. Sniff sniff....anyone got any tissues???

Posted by Arikat on July 23, 2006 09:09 AM.
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I've been trying to "leave my comment" here for ten hours but anyway...

Thanks for quoting a fragment of my post when the following made a similar description of the 'opposite side'. The reason I wrote the word 'some' in caps in the sentence "SOME Jews do have a sort of entrenched us-against-them tribalism", for example, i meant to emphasize the fact I tought they were the exception; as well as when I said "SOME Muslims spread terror all over the world", again an exception.

You failed to realise I was in fact saying that the Jews as a whole are "brought up to cherish life, and to pray every Sabbath for the peace and the safety of the countries in which they reside", as you so well putt it. If this is an example of how "any discussion about Israel quickly descends into Jew-baiting and hating proves to me that if you were to scratch most of the anti-Zionists here, you would find Jew haters" you would be one yourself then, right?

Please try to read all that is written before placing judgements, ok?

PEACE!

Posted by quecromos on July 23, 2006 11:37 PM.
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Who's been calling renepaul names? Comeon all you bunch of Nimrods!
Where will name calling get anyone of you blog fools?

I actually heard this on CBC the other day as the holders of passport of convenience (Canadians) were complaining that their trip away from home back to Canada was just not quite right. A little too hot. A little too cramped. A little too few ships to get them away from home in Lebanon back to Canada. They were showing some shots of the vibrant crowd who I suppose were headed to Montreal through Cyprus most likely, when there was a voice-over from an announcer/commentator that said something like "if this keeps up things might only get worse."
So if anyone out there can show me where there is a blog at The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website, or likewise at any Canadian newspaper, would they please submit the details here in this blog. Say like a blog where you can leave a comment atleast long enough to get a response and actually follow the blog without having to be notified by return email that your comment was accepted (usually within 14 hours) and when the direct link they give you to (the blog they removed from the internet just after you submitted a comment) their blog returns you to their site where you can be pretty well guaranteed the blog is closed as it SAYS SO. Closed. I almost ----- --------- as I read about how some people here think this site or possibly the BBC site are jerking some posters' chain.
I admit I have yet to circle the globe and check all broadcastors or every newspaper worldwide but I done some surfing mind you, and you folks gottit some damn fortunate.
Now everybody go to sleep and quit your name calling you bunch of name-callers.

Posted by wjme on July 24, 2006 04:45 AM.
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Look, my family is Jewish but I don't have any hesitation in saying the Isreali government should be tried for war crimes. The frankly, out of control isreali military machine should be dismantled, (there can be no democracy in isreal as long as they have all the power). They should change the name to palestine and give back Palestinian land. This is a more sensible road map for peace. Palestinian reprisals would be very small. I think that people, brainwashed by media would be suprised at the generosity and intelligence of most palestinians.
A blogger above said that anyone saying this kind of common sense thing is treated like a terrorist and has his blogs removed by the BBC. He's right! Incredible!

it's NOT anti-semetic to say this. Just as it was not anti-white to support the Nelson Mandela in S.Africa. A little common sense please BBC!

Posted by Dummycrusher on July 24, 2006 08:26 AM.
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nologo, watched the news today?

Posted by joshin69 on July 24, 2006 12:00 PM.
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jayar, is it anti-Semitic to question the politics of the Israeli government? Yes yoblair's post sounds a little angry but so am I! Blow the roads to sh*t then tells civilians to get the hell out, forcing them down back roads just to fire on them from the air! Has the words anti-Semitic become a simple thing to through around when you dont like what someone is saying? because that is a cop out!. Have you seen the pictures coming out of the south? If you can justify the destruction of complete residential areas, and I mean nearly leveled! Then like the US government, you need to remember your humanity

Posted by joshin69 on July 24, 2006 12:18 PM.
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they, the israelis could if they were truly the great nation they claim to be leave lebanon, return the golan heights, they could release the 10 000 detainees, they could return to 1967 borders and create an israel that provides dignity and equality amongst all of its people.

they, if they were great thinkers, could try to create the one state solution, creating one large melting pot of humanity - why would anyone want to remain on the outside if they are living as equals and enjoying the fruits of successful nation.

but israel is not a great nation. it does not have great thinkers in power. they have mealy mouthed greedy self serving bigots who show no regard to any life other than their own.

and the really really sad thing is that its people support these very leaders.

Posted by nologo on July 24, 2006 12:58 PM.
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can anyone here name any western 'civilised' 'liberal' country that is prepared to give any piece of their land to a new israel?

can you name any country that wants a 'jewish' state along its borders?

how about the good old usa? what do you think, would all of those democrats and republicans be falling over themselves to have israel in their part of the country? would the american people cheer on its borders holding the blue and white stars and stripes?

Posted by nologo on July 24, 2006 01:08 PM.
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what the hell gives with Israel.......

they drop leaflets on Lebanese villages telling them to flee, then

they bomb the roads leading out of the villages so no car can pass, then

they bomb the cars stuck on the road, killing whole families,

then they say with a straight face that they don't target civilians.

And the whole world watches and just shrugs

Posted by amedici on July 24, 2006 06:19 PM.
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I feel like I'm watching a Graham Greene novel unfolding. A minivan, carrying a Lebanese family trying to get to safety after having been ordered out of their homes by the Israelis, gets blasted by an Israeli missile, killing half the occupants.
Q: Why did you kill them?
A: We assumed they were Hezbollah.
Q: Why did you assume they were Hezbollah?
A: They were trying to flee the target area.
Q: Why were they trying to flee the target area?
A: We dropped warning leaflets in the target area telling people to leave or be killed.
Q: So if they had stayed you wouldn't have killed them?
A: No, if they'd stayed they would've been Hezbollah and we would've killed them.
Q: But if they were leaving then they weren't Hezbollah, right?
A: No, any Hezbollah in the target area would've tried to flee. They're not stupid.
Q: So you're saying that whether they stayed or whether they left, they were Hezbollah?
A: No. If they'd stayed in the target area then they were known to be Hezbollah. Because they fled, they were assumed to be Hezbollah. There's a difference.
Q: What difference? They're dead either way, even if they're innocent.
A: Don't be ridiculous. Israel never targets innocent civilians. Only those known to be or suspected of being Hezbollah.
Q: When will this stop?
A: When there are no more Hezbollah.

Posted by Whitt on July 24, 2006 06:26 PM.
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what is Israel guilty of? Wow, that's a difficult one.
Existing?

Posted by Shlomit on July 25, 2006 12:06 AM.
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Let me get this straight.....

Hezbollah crosses into Israel and takes 2 soldiers
and it's called 'kidnapping.'

Israel crosses into Gaza every day and takes hundreds
of Palestinians including elected government officials
and it's called 'self defense'.

Israel wrote the rule book when it comes to double standards.

Posted by amedici on July 25, 2006 02:09 AM.
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Shlomit, when when you ask the rhetorical question "what is Israel guilty of...existing?" you forgot to add "on another people's land"

Are you honestly scratching your head wondering why the Arab world is so angry with Israel and their Western proxies.

Posted by amedici on July 25, 2006 02:24 AM.
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