Condemnation of the War in Lebanon
Hundreds have been killed in the latest violence between Israel and Lebanon and we pray that this will open the door to a final and comprehensive peace agreement. Though we believe in the universal principal of the right to self-defense we condemn the indiscriminate and disproportionate response from the State of Israel and the deliberate targeting of civilians from both sides.
Ultimately, we condemn the violence wholeheartedly.
Our heartfelt condolences to the innocent lives that are lost in this conflict- whether Lebanese and Israeli.
July 28th, 2006 at 8:15 am
I am an Aussie, of Lebanese [Arab] Descent, and it is great that this blog exists… to help us do what you aim to do, differentiate between Zionism and Judaism…. an activist friend of mine Maltese -Australian, once told me that it is important to make that distinction…..my father has known several Jews, and he has no issue with Judaism or Jews living in the Middle East, just Zionism. Same with me. So,I look forward to a decent education, and your blog is on my RSS list [thumbs up]
July 31st, 2006 at 4:56 am
As a matter of coincidence, I’m also from Australia, and am encouraged to see your website and wish you all the best. My heritage is Lebanese, and I am decidedly for a just peace and against the policies of the Israeli administration, but this does not diminish my love for Jewish people.
Love and respect,
Ann
August 1st, 2006 at 6:11 am
i believe that your position is not easy.it is hard share lojality bethween born country and your jews nationality.course,israel have right for self defence, but so much violence and so manny dead people…so manny crushed buildings.overreacted is not enough strong word.and all of this for two soldiers in prison.course, i want them freedom and good health,but no other land in world could not make something like israel with this reason.big brother maybe would not be here like back shield,so israel must learn how to leave in peace with neighbours, and course, neighbours must protect israel from extremists.
August 2nd, 2006 at 1:07 am
I am a Lebanese-American Shi’ite Muslim, but I want to say that, although I am Muslim, and my family has been uprooted from their homes because of Israel, I do not ever confuse anger at Israel with anger at Jews. I love that I found this site because, unfortunately, while I knew that there were Jewish Lebanese, no one I knew could say for certain if there were any left in Lebanon. I think it is important that the people of Lebanon remain strong and UNITED. And I pray that once this is over we can come together in the way we all once were well before the civil war. We might have different belief’s, but we were all created by the same God and we should remember that. Also, with all the hatred going around towards the Shia, I feel like I have to say that I love Lebanon so much and ALL of the Lebanese people: Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druze. Everyone the same. I feel like the Shia are not understood and come off in a very wrong light. I only hope that religious strife will end and we will all see each other as people. (I am afraid to say this, but I have always had a deep love for the Jewish religion…it speaks to me very strongly and I greatly admire it.)
Please keep updating this site for I would love to learn more about what you all have to say.
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:28 pm
Hi. I just found this site. I think its really great. I wasn’t aware that there were many Jews in Lebanon.
I’m writing to inquire if you have any ideas or contacts for how students in North America can help the people of Lebanon and foster peace in the region. I’m thinking of some Jewsih student groups at many universities that oppose the war in Lebanon that would like to do what they can to inform people, change their minds and make peace. But, I also know there are many Lebanese students at my school and others who seek cooperation with Jewish students such as myself, and would like to know how to involve them as well. If you have any suggestions or ideas you can email me at isaac.binkovitz@mail.mcgill.ca
Peace
August 3rd, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Hello, I, too, have just come across this website. Although I’m not Jewish I know that most Jews are peace loving and just like most other non-Jewish people.To read what I read on this website regenerates that belief for me. I simply can’t understand the beligerent stance of so many Zionists and the distruction that it causes. John
August 4th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
Wonderful web site; so nice it is humbling to read what you have posted.
I still think of Lebanese-American actor Danny Thomas (http://www.answers.com/topic/danny-thomas) every time I hear or read about Lebanon. It is very depressing to see what is happening to Lebanese and Israeli civilians.
Your commitment to multicultalism is also very inspiring. I am a catholic very interested in catholic-jewish reconciliation; beautiful web site.
August 5th, 2006 at 11:04 pm
This site is a fraud. Tell us your names.
August 6th, 2006 at 1:47 am
I found this beautiful site from Israel from a lady, an artist, who grew up in Beirut…This is what she says on her site:
“I was born in Beirut, Lebanon, as the third of five children. My parents are Meir Dagmy, originally from Baghdad, Iraq, and Souraya Na’anous whose family had immigrated to Lebanon from Damascus, Syria. (My mother, of blessed memory, passed away in September 2003.) I grew up in the Wadi Abu Jamil neighborhood of Beirut and spent a very happy childhood there. Relations between Jews, Moslems and Christians were very good. In fact, my father, who owned a carpentry shop, had a Moslem business associate for many, many years with whom he enjoyed a very good partnership. ..”
http://www.fortunaszpiro.com/
August 6th, 2006 at 2:37 am
I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as fellow Lebanese.
I am stuck in the UK right now because of the war. I keep trying to tell people here that there’s a Jewish quarter in Lebanon, that the synagogue is still around although it was damaged, along with the rest of the downtown area, during the civil war, but unfortunately people find it easier to believe in black and white distinctions between human beings. As Arab Jews you are an alternate, vital voice both in the world and in Lebanon. Identities are multiple and nuanced, and if more people believed that then….
I would be very interested to read about the history of Lebanese Jewry. Has the war postponed the opening of the market? Wish I could be there for it…
Stay safe.
August 6th, 2006 at 2:54 am
One of the three prisoners Hezbollah wants freed from Israeli jail is Nasser Nissim, an Israeli citizen of Lebanese origin, with a Jewish mother and Shi’ite father.
Yanni - this isn’t a war between Shiia against Massieh against Yahudeh against Druze - this is just an old anti colonialist struggle where poor people want justice and dignity and freedom and where that also so happens to be in the real interest of rich people also
http://ww4report.com/node/2278
August 6th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
I too wish for an end to the violence, and I too am anti-belligerent-radicalized-evangelical-fundamentalism, which certain forms Zionism are a part.
I’m all in favor of a place Jews (or any other group) can live in without discrimination and in peace with each other, however, the current state of Israel is a bastardization of that dream.
I wish you and your friends well.
Regs, Shaggy
August 7th, 2006 at 7:47 am
It’s not important my name, religion or political party. The most important is us “LEBANESE PEOPLE” to wake up and realize that, for the last decades, we were living in a total mess influenced by foreign hands. This mess and entire quioz was graved into the brains and hearts of our LEBANESE beloved brothers and sisters from years ago. It’s our time now to change, to change our living style after that it was corrupted and manipulated, to accept living together after that we were killing each other and some times not with guns, to be one hand to give LEBANON the power to survive and survive its people. The thing is that we can live together if we intended to and if we are really thinking about the PUBLIC LEBANESE BENEFITS and not our personal benefits. At the end, I hope to be acting like one nationality, outside and inside LEBANON.
A message for all LEBANESE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE.
August 7th, 2006 at 11:32 am
hi guys i am a lebanese australian shia, i heard that once upon a time there was jews in lebanon, i really would have loved if they remained in lebanon and lived with us side to side i would have been interesting, i lived in lebanon for 7 years in south of lebanon my village was bombed by idf several times but i never held a grudge towards the jews, i would love if we have peace in my area even though my uncle was killed by an air-strike, i would love if we have peace but the problem isnt lebanon, its israel because the presence of israel caused the existence of hizbullah!!!
Many respct to our lebanese jews and seriously i would love to get to know sum of them if there is any in australia..
August 7th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Wonderfull site, finally Jews all over need to see this.
Let us not be confused by the CNNs and Fox news networks. Jews, Muslims and Christians in the ME have been together as one for centuries.
Example, history shows that the Alhambra palace in Spain was used on Fridays as a mosque for Muslims and as a Synagogue on Saturdays for Jews (see the Star of David on the main dome). So to say that this a war among Muslims and Jews is simply propaganda used by the new colonial powers, including the Zionists.
LEBANON WILL LIVE FOREVER AS AN ARAB STATE (JEW, MUSLIM, DRUZE, AND CHRISTIAN AS EQUALS), AND THE LEBANESE PEOPLE WILL SPREAD THE SEED OF PEACE AND HARMONY ALL OVER.
August 8th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Your site has my heart full of hope……….i feel so strongly that we need voices of logic and reason of compassion and understanding…Allah gave us judaism christianity and islam……my love for all who ……..i wish for a day when we may all live side by side in peace where we will realize that we are all one all childeren of ALLAH…..may he bring peace to our homes our people VivA LiBnaN
August 9th, 2006 at 1:02 am
The jews are probably one of the sects that most suffered from the war in Lebanon…
The war was unjust for all of us, however we, the post-war generation, have pledged on more than one occasion to rid Lebanon of its sectarian plague…
One day, all the Citizens of Lebanon will regain their full rights as equals and protected under the law…
August 10th, 2006 at 3:24 am
I write from Vancouver, Canada.
In the rallies of these past days I have met Jews for Just Peace who were marching side by side with Lebaneses and Palestinians. This gives me hope. I understand that your association has a similar peaceful intent. And peace is at the hearth of Judaism. Its mission should be of peace among the nations. In this consists the chooseness of Israel. Being of Jewish ancestry, I am very disappointed when I see Zionism use the Jewish identity to cover up its ideology that has nothing to do with Judaism. I hope that one day Jewish people like you will be able to show more and more what is at the core of your religion and ethos. The world will benefit greatly from that!
August 11th, 2006 at 10:36 am
I think that it should be clear that the right of self-defence is applicable to all people. So, Lebanon is also defending its territories from an invading Israeli Army.
August 11th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
I am a shia muslim as well and I really feel bad when people confuse Judaims with Zionism.
Hey Guys, Not to exclude anyone, I have notice a special love frpom shia’s towards Jewish people. What is that suppose to mean; I find it very intriguing.
*** It would be great to have a forum on this site where we can all exchange about different topics*** A Lebanese forum made for lebanese without any discrimination….
August 12th, 2006 at 4:56 am
Hello everyone,
I do not consider myself a hardcore Zionist, but I do support the State of Israel.
As everyone here has agreed, Israel has every right to defend herself from attacks against her citizens. As we speak, Katyusha rockets are still flying over the border into Israel. As we speak, more property is being destroyed. As we speak, more Israelis of all religions are being wounded, terrorised, and some even killed!
Of course, let nothing be taken away from the clear suffering that the Lebanese people have been facing since this war began, but I do not like the demonization of Israel that I am seeing all over the world - and especially by Jews!
I think we all agree that war is not a good thing. We all prefer to live in peace in our countries. However, what is Israel to do when an organization who would love the chance to slaughter every Jewish Israeli man, woman and child, has gathered tens of thousands of rockets and begun to fire them? Surely you cannot expect Israel to stand idly by?
Israel IS the home of the Jewish people. Zionism is merely a political movement dedicated to returning all Jews BACK to their home. An attack against the State of Israel is not an attack against Zionism - it is not an attack against a political ideology. It is an attack against the people of Israel - an attack against the JEWISH PEOPLE.
I pray that you will understand: We will not lay down and die once more. Never again will we allow innocent Jews to be brutally slaughtered. Never again will we ignore those who call for the destruction of the Jewish race, as Hitler put it, or wiping Israel off the map, as Ahmadinejad put it. This is the mentality of the people of Israel. People have sought to eliminate us in the past and they seek to eliminate us now.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to all innocent Lebanese who are unjustly suffering as a result of this war, which in truth, is not your war to fight. But again, I pray that you will understand, we simply cannot allow this situation to continue.
-Bechor
August 13th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
These are old pic fro a synagogue in lebonon it located in whady sharor
http://www.cedarguards.org/images/Forum.htm
August 14th, 2006 at 8:55 am
this site is really lovely. it is all about unity of people who have their roots in a beautiful country…Lebanon. i sincerely hope that your website gains a huge following. i hope you can bring back the Jews of Liban. Lebanon is a tolerant and open minded society. whenever you have a country that only considers itself one certain religion, you have a theocracy. it is by nature intolerant of other faiths, other cultures. it will always have strife because of that intolerance. Jews originated in the middle east, and they have been all people of the middle east. i am American of Lebanese descent on my mother’s side. in America, diversity is the norm, it is the dream. if America suddenly adopts only one official religion, it will die. this American administration has done alot of wrong, and i will criticize it and work to right it. it does not mean that i want to destroy America..and it certainly doesn’t mean that i hate the American people. blind rabidism is doomed to failure. Long live Lebanon and its diversity.
September 5th, 2006 at 12:27 am
I love this website; it gives me hope to know that we are not all consumed with hatred and anger. I am an Australian that was caught in the conflict in July, when my plane was grounded at Dubai, but, instead of hatred I feel sorrow, because I believed that Lebanon was regaining its crown of peace and unity amongst its people.
I am glad you have made the distinction between religion and race and I hope one day we can all live side by side without fear or prejudice.
Tolerance and acceptance of diversity is all it takes, we need to acknowledge that governments and media are the roots of the hatred that is instilled in people.
Thank you again for a lovely website. I hope if I ever make it to Lebanon it will be a time of religious and cultural diversity, where everyone regardless of religious sect has the right to live and enjoy life ..together.
October 28th, 2006 at 7:11 am
Bonjour femme et homme
j’etais :S et
j’etais a l’ecole,Canada ……c’est mes amis hommes et perssonnes sont partis je etais aide perssones mais libanese etais dificile. libanese , l’enfants mortes beaucoup vis dilicile et perssonnes a achete beaucouup etc
. Canada.
In the rallies of these past days I have met Jews for Just Peace who were marching side by side with Lebaneses and Palestinians. This gives me hope. I understand that your association has a similar peaceful intent. And peace is at the hearth of Judaism. Its mission should be of peace among the nations. In this consists the chooseness of Israel. Being of Jewish ancestry, I am very disappointed when I see Zionism use the Jewish identity to cover up its ideology that has nothing to do with Judaism. I hope that one day Jewish people like you will be able to show more and more what is at the core of your religion and ethos. The world will benefit greatly from that!
It’s not important my name, religion or political party. The most important is us “LEBANESE PEOPLE” to wake up and realize that, for the last decades, we were living in a total mess influenced by foreign hands. This mess and entire quioz was graved into the brains and hearts of our LEBANESE beloved brothers and sisters from years ago. It’s our time now to change, to change our living style after that it was corrupted and manipulated, to accept living together after that we were killing each other and some times not with guns, to be one hand to give LEBANON the power to survive and survive its people. The thing is that we can live together if we intended to and if we are really thinking about the PUBLIC LEBANESE BENEFITS and not our personal benefits. At the end, I hope to be acting like one nationality, outside and inside LEBANON.
A message for all LEBANESE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE. thank u
November 29th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
Hello,
I am from the UK. I was born in UK, but i visited and fell in love with Lebanon before the war started.
I run an Islamic website dedicated to fighting all sorts of misconceptions that exist. It is primarily a website to teach people about Islam, but we also wish to build bridges and make people understand other cultures better. As a Muslim, i have no problems at all with having a Jewish neighbour or doing business with Jews.
Those who do bad to Jewish people or any other group of people, do so at their own peril. Firstly, there is no reason to say anything of hatred to them. I believe most of the anti-semitism against Jewish people (as Arabs can be semitic too) is based purely on todays political climate and ignorance.
One can not ignore the injustices that happen in the Middle East at the hands of the Zionists. However, this can never justify anyone taking revenge in a similar fashion against civillians.
I ask Allah to help all the people, and bring peace to the world. Its important for Muslims to learn about their Religion properly and not be influenced by culture and politics. And for them to be patient and Just. To learn that not all people are with the oppressors.
I think that there aught to be more websites like this. I know quite a few Jews here in the UK, and they are quite harmless! lol. Although, i dont tend to talk to Zionists as they can be offensive and very bigotted.
December 8th, 2006 at 6:03 am
to the lebanse thanks for the pics it bringing so much memory
December 8th, 2006 at 6:04 am
hi bechor you 100% right
December 8th, 2006 at 6:16 am
hi i am lebanse jew and you guys keep saying zioninst
if you look in the bible you going to see” zion” it another name
for”israel” so if you accspet the name “jews” you have to
accspet the zioninst
December 8th, 2006 at 6:18 am
to sara i am lebanse jew and i am very happt to listen to
what you saying
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
As an IDF reserve solider who participated in the war, I was very touched to visit this site.
I am sure and convinced that Lebanon stands for so much more than radical fanaticism. I know that if the quite majority of Lebanese would be running the country (not the Syrians/Iranian Hezbollah and the like) Israelis and Jews like my self would not have to enter Lebanon in tanks but on trains on the way to sky in the beautiful Lebanese mountains, or drink coffee in a cafe in Beirut.
I remember during my service looking at cities like Marjayun and saying to myself “what buity” I really think its about time peace between the two countries came. I am disturbed by the prime ministers comment on Lebanon being the last Arab country to sign peace with Israel. I really hope that he said this only in order to gain Arab backing.
There is NO reason for Israel and Lebanon to go on with the killing.
I dream of the day Ill take a morning train to Beirut do some shopping with my wife and children,do some site seeing and towards sunset join a prayer in The Magen Avraham Synagogue and return on the evening train. God willing!
David
June 27th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Dear David, I’m an italian boy (and also “lebanese” in myself). I love Israel and Palestine to, like “existence”. I dislike who kills jewish lebanese but I dislike, at the same way, israeli wars. I believe in the principal of the right to self-defense, ok, but Israeli’s response was very very disproportionate!! There’s way and way… I know very well Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. I watch your television - television news - and I listen your music (lebanese and Avi Peretz’s MizraHit). DON’T SAY TO ME: “ANTI-ZIONIST”. Israel is always very hard with others. I dislike terrorism but, I repete, Israel does too Victims by his way to do, by his response. I love Israel but not in that way. I love Beirut beacause is similar to Haifa. I study lebanese language (said also “lebanese-arabic”) and hebrew and arabic languages. Don’t say to me “anti-Israel”, I want existence for all, Israel to, Palestine to. Andrea. PS: IF YOU ALL love ALL middle-east, existence for ALL, write me, I’d be very happy - My mail: andremiddle.east@yahoo.it