Between the flags of Al-Shaab and Al-Dhahira, there is an aggression targeting churches and mosques
The mayor of Alma al-Shaab, Jean Ghafri, said that the Israeli enemy does not distinguish between a Christian town and a Muslim town, and the evidence for this is that its targeting did not spare churches and mosques.
He stressed, “The town was severely damaged during the Israeli aggression.” He said: “The people of our town are from the Christian sect, and there are no weapons or militants there, so we are surprised by this targeting of our town, attacking it, and destroying it with the Israeli aircraft that it was subjected to.”
He pointed out that the people’s flags were exposed to Israeli bombing in the July 2006 war, “but not to this level.”
He said: “They (Israeli army soldiers) bulldozed the long-standing olive groves in the town, and destroyed homes in many of the border villages neighboring us, such as Al-Dhahira, Al-Naqoura, and Yarin.”
He stressed “the importance of national unity and fraternal coexistence throughout history between all components of the southern villages, Christian and Islamic,” stressing that “this is the face of Lebanon, its value and its existence.” We share with each other in joys and sorrows and on all occasions, and we will remain that way and pass it on to our generations.” Regarding the issue of the town and returning to it, Ghagri said: “We are still outside the town, and it seems that our story is long, as the Israeli enemy occupies the town, and with the beginning of the war about 90 percent of the people left the town and about 10 percent remained. When the war intensified for 66 days, most of the people left the town and it became empty, and since then we have known nothing about the town’s situation.”
He added: “Some of the pictures we received showed that the destruction was great, as 90 homes out of 350 were completely destroyed as a result of Israeli warplane raids, in addition to the severe damage that affected most of the homes.”
He continued: “Unfortunately, in the first week of the war, they destroyed the town’s water tank, so the necessities of life became unavailable, and then the attacks continued. The solar energy project that we rely on to generate electricity was destroyed, as the electricity generators in the town are owned by the municipality, and this project reduces the burden of the cost of diesel in operation, but unfortunately it was all destroyed, in addition to the destruction of roads and other facilities.”
Ghafri asked the Lebanese government about “the plan it has drawn up for these border towns in the event that we return to them, especially since the municipalities’ situation is collapsed and empty and they do not have the capabilities.”
He pointed out, “We are waiting for circumstances to allow us to enter the town.” We are one of the towns threatened by the occupation and preventing the return of its people. Therefore, we are waiting for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army to enter our villages. There are great fears among the people about Israeli violations, as we expect everything from the enemy.” He expressed his concern about the course of matters, hoping “there will not be an extension of the sixty-day period (specified in the ceasefire agreement for Israeli withdrawal).”
Ghafri hoped that “the Israeli withdrawal from the border villages would be completed today before tomorrow, so that we will have enough tragedies and suffering while we are outside our town, as we have left our property, our livelihood, and our lands.” All our dreams, memories and roots in the town cannot be forgotten. We will definitely return to it, even if we are forced to live in tents. We cling to our land and our roots, regardless of the sacrifices and occupations, and we will remain a thorn in the eye of the Israeli.”
The sad scene and tragedies lie in the town of Al-Dhahira, whose homes were completely destroyed, as its mayor, Abdullah Al-Gharib, pointed out.
Al-Gharib pointed out to Al-Anbaa that “the enemy blew up all the town’s houses, schools, public facilities, and even the four mosques and artesian wells.” “Al-Dhahaira is 100% destroyed.”
He added: “The Israeli occupation soldiers entered the town on October 10, and blew up the town, leaving no stone unturned. They poured out their hatred and crimes against the town.”
Al-Gharib confirmed that “about 95% of the people of Al-Dahira depend on olive cultivation,” but pointed out that “the occupation soldiers bulldozed the olive fields and burned a large part of them…they even uprooted the old olive trees and took them into the Zionist entity.”
He pointed out, “Al-Dhahira is one town, and the occupation divided it in 1956, and part of it became inside Palestine across a hill known as “Al-Jardah,” which today is known as Arab Al-Aramsheh on the Palestinian side, and Al-Dhahira on the Lebanese side.”
The mayor expressed his fear and concern about the course of the situation on the border after the destruction of the villages, and said: “The enemy does not want the people of the border towns to return to their villages, and he has a bigger plan than displacement, and he wants to kill any hope for life in those villages, after he turned them into scorched earth, and they have become useless.” It is suitable for habitation, as there is no water, electricity, or roads, but we insist on returning, despite our fears of renewed war, as we are not safe for Israel.”
He concluded by saying: “Unfortunately, the villages of the border strip were completely destroyed by 90%, such as the towns of Umm al-Tut, Al-Dhalutiyah, Al-Bustan, and Tair Harfa in the western sector, in addition to the villages of the central and eastern sector. The enemy is still blowing up homes in the towns of Naqoura, Shehin, and Yarin, so we doubt Israel’s withdrawal according to the agreement, and we fear the future in light of the Israeli attacks. Israeli tanks are out and about more than during the days of war, and no one is deterring them.”
