LCCC ENGLISH NEWS BULLETIN
October 18/06
Biblical Reading For today
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 11,37-41.
After he had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
Free Opinions
Terrorism Expert to Speak on "Future Jihad"-High Point UniversityPower and the people-Guardian Unlimited - UK
The Lebanese will never forget those who changed their skin-Global Politician - Brooklyn,NY,USALatest New from The Daily Star for October 18/06
'Lebanon needs $8 billion from Paris conference'
UNIFIL denies French threat to fire on intruding Israeli jets
Kuwait gives CDR $300 million to rebuild homes
Arab states vow to accelerate Lebanon's comebackIndonesia confirms deployment despite announcement of delay
Group seeks stronger Franco-Lebanese ties
Christians demand slice of reconstruction pie
Parliament opens session by reshaping committees
Fatfat keeps new security moves under wraps
Berri accuses world legislatures of 'blindly' following US ordersSidon souks hope for sales revival during Eid
Latest New from miscellaneous sources for October 18/06
Talabani backs 'Iran-Syria plan'-BBC News
LEBANON: New school year gets underway with few hitches-IRIN
Joumblatt: Church bells will ring again in three villages -AsiaNews.it
Cabinet's Swift Decision to Hold Paris-3 Seen Aimed at Curbing Tensions-Naharnet
'Syria still arming Hezbollah'-Kuwait Times
Syria Continuing To Smuggle Arms to Hizbullah-Arutz Sheva
UN force mobilizes cautiously in Lebanon-Boston Globe
Israel says Syria continues to arm Hezbollah-Reuters
Lebanon rejects Israeli PM's peace moves-ABC Online
France offers to hold Lebanon donor conference in January-International Herald Tribune
Arab League official appeals for aid to Lebanon-Monsters and Critics.com
Iranian nuclear threat to top agenda of Olmert's visit to Russia-International Herald Tribune
Olmert Speech Doesn't Mention Pullback-Guardian Unlimited
Israeli bombs 'major threat' to children-NEWS.com.au
Israelis Rebuild, But Question Benefits of War-Voice of America
Israel Warns of Nuclear Weapons Proliferation to Hezbollah-New York Sun
Lebanese Paper: Syria-Egypt Summit Soon-Arutz Sheva
Syria's Foreign Policies Impede Economic Progress, Dardari Says-Bloomberg
An "unofficial" view of the war in Lebanon-Israel Insider
Views on UN force mirror south Lebanon's makeup-International Herald Tribune
UN Peacekeepers Relish Calm in Lebanon-Dateline Alabama
Economic and Security Concerns Eclipse Political Crisis in Lebanon-Naharnet
The World Council of the Cedars Revolution
Representing the hopes and aspirations of many millions of Lebanese throughout the Diaspora
www.cedarsrevolution.org
Tuesday 17th October 2006
Media Release
Lebanese Government in Grave Danger of a Coup D’etat
The World Council for the Cedars Revolution (WCCR) warns of a serious growing concern about the consistent outbursts by the Iranian, Syrian and Hezbollah alliance regarding the state and stability of the present government of Lebanon.
This tyrannical alliance which has been and continues to be one of destruction and devastation to the lives of the innocent people of Lebanon, having lost the 34 day war to the superior military capabilities of Israel, is now looking inwards to destabilize the government of Lebanon and inflict further fear and damage to the lives of the Lebanese population.
This ruthless alliance which has vowed not to submit to the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1559, continues to disregard the territorial integrity of Lebanon and smuggle arms to their terrorist militias including Hezbollah, the armed Palestinians and others, without regard to any consequences by the UNSC. It is the same brutal alliance which is demonstrating a relentless desire for more destruction by its inexcusable confrontation to UNSCR 1701, by its continuation of supplying rockets to the terrorists, which has enabled Hassan Nasrallah to claim that instead of surrendering his arsenal, he now has a stockpile of 20,000 rockets available to launch against Israel.
Given his inability to win a war against Israel, will Hassan Nasrallah be tempted that, with the support of his Christian allies, to turn his weapons onto the rest of the population in order to terrorize them and establish a dictatorship in the mould of the Afghani Taliban, under his supreme reign? For it was he who said that he will never surrender his arms to this government, perhaps it was more than just a passing comment. Perhaps the buildup of arms and the comment were more in preparation to support the agenda of the Syrian President Bashar Assad who recently claimed that the political stability of Lebanon was in his hands; and then subsequently intimated that the political environment in Lebanon was reminiscent of 1975 when the Syrian forces invaded Lebanon and remained in occupation for approximately 30 years. He no doubt would love to re-occupy Lebanon again.
Will this bloodthirsty alliance create another civil war in Lebanon in order that it might achieve its ultimate objective of an Islamic dictatorship across the Middle East, isolating Israel for what they might perceive to be the final onslaught and annihilation of the Jewish State.
The United Nations Security Council, strongly supported by Washington and Paris have been exhausting every possible measure of energy and effort to ensure the full development of democracy in the Middle East. They see in Lebanon a perfect opportunity to cement the democratic process and using that a platform and example, move forward to other Middle East nations in urgent need of democratization. Once again, the questions which beg to be asked are, are they fully aware of the true motivations and plans of this ferocious alliance of evil? Will they be fully prepared to avoid another civil war in Lebanon? Will they defend the process of democracy and its development in the Middle East with all their capabilities? Or are we perhaps seeing the production of another theatrical performance reminiscent of 1982 in Lebanon?
Joumblatt: Church bells will ring again in three villages on Mountain
17 October, 2006 -LEBANON
At the end of a visit to Patriarch Sfeir, the Druze leader emphasized the “historical relationship” with Christians and recalled the “reconciliation of the Mountain” that allowed Christians to return to villages they fled during the civil war.
Beirut (AsiaNews) – Church bells will ring again in three villages of Chouf, the Lebanese Mountain from where Christians were forced to flee during the civil war. The prediction was made by Walid Joumblatt, the Druze leader, after a visit to the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkerke yesterday.
The Progressive Socialist Party leader said his visit to Bkerke “reinforced the historical association between the Chouf and Bkerke, and fortified the historical reconciliation of the Mountain”, which took place in 2001. In the summer of that year, Cardinal Sfeir was able to visit the Mountain for the first time after the flight of thousands of Christians from villages at the end of a bloody conflict between Christians and Druze during the 1975-1990 Civil War.
“I have not visited Bkerke in a long time due to the tense security situation in the country, but the intellectual and political relationship with Bkerke, which represents good, has always remained active... I came to reaffirm this historical relationship and to remind those who pretend to have forgotten about it, that on 4 and 5 August 2001, Patriarch Sfeir visited the Mountain. We have consolidated historical reconciliation with him. On that occasion, the bells of all the churches rang out, and now, God willing, with the help of the Lebanese government and divine benediction – the real one – of the patriarch, the church bells of Kfar Matta, Obeih and Brih will ring again.” The reference to the “real” blessing appears to be a controversial dig at the rival Hezbollah party and its “divine victory”.“Reconciliation” is allowing the return of Christians although years of exile have created several problems linked to property restitution. At times, these problems mean that return, although theoretically possible, is not feasible. In some villages, like in Brih, exhausting negotiations are under way between Christian land owners and Druze people who built houses on top of this land.
'Syria still arming Hezbollah'
JERUSALEM: Israel accused Syria yesterday of continuing to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon in violation of a United Nations-backed ceasefire and said it might take military action if the shipments didn't stop. "We view this with great severity," Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz told a parliamentary panel, according to a legislative spokesman who along with Peretz heard an army intelligence officer give details of the alleged smuggling. "We are in the process of gathering evidence," the spokesman quoted Peretz as saying. "If it turns into a steady occurrence, we will deal with the smuggling ourselves." The intelligence officer, Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, told the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee "smuggling of arms and ammunition continues from the Syrian side to Hezbollah," in violation of UN Resolution 1701, the spokesman said. The resolution passed in August led to an end to a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah that erupted after guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid from Lebanon on July 12. During the war, Hezbollah rained nearly 4,000 rockets on northern Israel and Israeli forces pounded guerrilla targets in Lebanon. Some 1,200 Lebanese and 157 Israelis were killed in the hostilities.
In another development, Lebanon's top Shiite Muslim cleric said yesterday a reinforced international force on the Lebanese border was only there to protect Israel. Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah said United Nations peacekeepers were doing little to stop Israeli violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and urged the Lebanese to treat the force, UNIFIL, with caution. "The widening of the scope of Israeli violations in the south and other areas in Lebanon and their repetition within the sight and hearing range of UNIFIL forces that don't interfere to stop these violations affirm that these forces have come here to protect Israel not Lebanon," a statement from Fadlallah said. "Therefore, it is the Lebanese people's right to put a question mark over its (UN force) role and to be cautious towards it in order to deal with it in a way that would protect Lebanon's security and peace."
A UN resolution ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas on Aug 14. It also called for the deployment of up to 15,000 UN troops to join a similar number of Lebanese army troops in mainly Shiite south Lebanon. Israeli forces withdrew from virtually all of south Lebanon on Oct 1 but Israeli jets continue to fly over Lebanon. Lebanon and UNIFIL say overflights violate Lebanese sovereignty and breach the UN resolution. But Israel has said the overflights would continue to help ensure that arms supplies do not reach Hezbollah from Syria. Israel has also not withdrawn from a small area of southern Lebanon, which straddles the border between Lebanon and territory Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War. Lebanon has since threatened to complain to the UN Security Council unless Israel leaves the Lebanese part of the Ghajar village. Statements such as that of German Chancellor Angela Merkel who linked Berlin's decision to send a naval force to prevent Hezbollah from rearming by sea with Germany's "special responsibility for Israel's right to exist", have also upset many Lebanese politicians and officials. _ Agencies
Syria Continuing To Smuggle Arms to Hizbullah
10:41 Oct 16, '06 / 24 Tishrei 5767
(IsraelNN.com) "Conclusive and decisive evidence" proves that Syria continues to smuggle arms into Lebanon for Hizbullah terrorists despite the United Nations Security Council ceasefire resolution, the head of the IDF intelligence research department told the Cabinet. Arming Hizbullah is in direct violation of the U.N. resolution. Major-General Yossi Baidatz also told the government, "Syria's [President Bashar] al-Assad continues to play an active role in the anti-Israel axis and supports Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah."
UN force mobilizes cautiously in Lebanon
Hezbollah leaders present obstacles
By Thanassis Cambanis, Globe Staff | October 17, 2006
AITAROUN, Lebanon -- The 6,000 international peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon are supposed to provide a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah fighters and help Lebanese villagers recover from the deadly war this summer. Instead, the United Nations forces are increasingly the object of popular suspicion and anger, fueled by the alarmist proclamations of some Hezbollah leaders -- raising serious obstacles for a mission that depends heavily on Hezbollah's cooperation. Israeli forces have all but completed their withdrawal from southern Lebanon after the monthlong war against Hezbollah fighters ended with a cease-fire on Aug. 14. Units from the beefed-up force of UN peacekeepers from 11 nations now crisscross the hilly terrain each day. But in Beirut mosques, clerics preach that the UN troops are being used as a ``tool of Israel and the United States" to de-fang Hezbollah's ``resistance." Hezbollah supporters openly express their distrust of the UN force. They liken the peacekeeping troops to the Israeli occupation force that held southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000. ``The next war won't be with Israel. It'll be against the United Nations," said a man who identified himself as a Hezbollah fighter and gave only his first name, Abdullah. A burly man in a tight T-shirt, Abdullah stood with another Hezbollah member on the edge of the village of Chemaa and surveyed a camp under construction by Italian peacekeepers from a marine unit called the Lagunari. ``I see them as occupiers," the second fighter, Hassan, said. The angry sentiment is stoked in part by conspiracy theories that the UN peacekeeping force, with its armored personnel carriers and warships patrolling the coast, is actually the vanguard of a renewed assault, this time by international troops, on Hezbollah.
Since 1978, a small contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, has monitored the truce line between Lebanon and Israel. They were lightly armed, with no mandate to interfere. They reported violations of the cease-fire to the UN and did some aid and reconstruction in the underdeveloped and historically war-wracked region. The UN resolution that ended the latest war increased the size of the UN mission from 2,000 to 15,000 troops eventually. The new peacekeepers have tanks, armored personnel carriers, heavy guns, and a mandate that allows them to shoot if threatened. One key element of the revised mandate is to assist the Lebanese Army in deploying its own forces in the south after years in which only Hezbollah militias operated there. Alex Ivanko, the UNIFIL spokesman, said the UN so far had not detected any change in local sentiment. ``There's a feeling of war fatigue among the population," he said. ``Enough is enough. That's a major stabilizing factor in the south
The swell of negative energy is not lost, however, on Captain Patrick Lamirale, whose company of French troops patrols a mountainous border sector that includes militant Hezbollah strongholds like Aitaroun and Bint Jbail. ``The local population is nice. I hope it will last," Lamirale said this week as a tank patrol prepared to leave his hilltop base. Although Lamirale personally tries to visit as many local leaders as possible, his troops do the opposite; the patrol's route was designed to avoid villages where the presence of blue-helmeted peacekeepers and white tanks might make residents feel resentful.
Lamirale's company of French marines tries to stay out of sight, but is prepared to come to the assistance of the Lebanese Army if it asks for help disarming Hezbollah fighters or maintaining law and order. The troops will have to resolve on the ground a mandate that many of them describe as confusing. Like his superiors at the UN headquarters on the coast, Lamirale hedges when asked what the UN would do if Hezbollah resumed carrying arms openly, and the Lebanese Army asked for help disarming the militants.
``Hezbollah is very discreet," Lamirale said. ``They're everywhere, but for the time being they don't do anything."
Lamirale's soldiers did not exchange a single word with any of the Lebanese locals who watched sullenly as the patrol passed through Aitaroun, down the hill from the observation post.
``We don't need the UN here. We have the resistance to protect us," said a 27-year-old construction worker who would give only his first name, Hassan.
Hassan said he had seen UN patrols in his hometown his entire life, and had grown angry about them only in the last month, when the French appeared with their heavy armored vehicles, not so different from the Israeli ones.
``Their tanks being here, it's like having the Israelis still here," he said.
Hezbollah's supreme leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, permitted the UN force and has ordered his fighters to put down their arms for the time being. However, he's also encouraged suspicions among his followers by warning the UN not to spy on behalf of Israel. Other Hezbollah leaders are actively promoting hostility toward the UN, such as Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, the most senior cleric in the organization.
``The international community is trying to provoke internal conflict," Fadlallah warned in his Friday sermon in the southern suburbs of Beirut, to a rapt audience of fellow Shi'ites. ``Don't be distracted. The Lebanese people must be cautious of secret plans drawn up by the international community to inflame sectarianism."
If the suspicion turns to violence, the UN could find it impossible to conduct its mission; the force commander has repeatedly said he has no interest in clashes with Hezbollah or an active effort to disarm the militia.
The climate of mistrust comes as a radical change. Shi'ites in southern Lebanon have embraced the peacekeepers who first deployed here 28 years ago. Traditionally, southern Lebanese Shi'ites considered the small contingent of UN peacekeepers on their side in the conflict with Israel, while Israel has historically criticized UNIFIL for standing by ineffectually as Hezbollah has armed and attacked from bases in the south.
In just a month, however, UNIFIL's profile has completely changed in the south. Before the summer war, small units of Indian and Ghanaian peacekeepers patrolled the border and did some reconstruction projects. Now, more than 6,000 troops, including the heavily armed French marines in battle tanks, Italians in armored personnel carriers, and Spaniards in Humvees have crowded into southern Lebanon, patrolling a space so small that troop convoys create constant traffic jams. By the end of this year, there will be 15,000 peacekeepers and 15,000 Lebanese soldiers in the area.
UN officials seem clearer talking about what the peacekeepers mandate isn't than what it is. ``We are not here to disarm Hezbollah, period," said Alex Ivanko, the UNIFIL spokesman. ``We are here to assist the Lebanese Army."So far, the UN has stayed away from the land border between Syria and Lebanon, where weapons shipments to Hezbollah would most likely pass -- avoiding a political clash with Syria, but also making it harder to stop Hezbollah from trying to re-arm. Under their rules of engagement, UN peacekeepers are allowed to use force only if threatened. If Hezbollah changes its position and decides to directly challenge the UN, peacekeepers worry they will not have the political backing -- or mandate -- to stop them.
Timur Goksel, who served as a top official in UNIFIL for decades, says the new peacekeeping deployment is hamstrung by a vague mandate.
If Hezbollah re-arms and goes on the offensive, or if another war breaks out with Israel, Goksel says the beefier, new UN will have as little impact as the old UNIFIL.``They'll go back to their bases," Goksel predicted. ``And then they'll leave."
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.
France offers to hold Lebanon donor conference in January
The Associated Press- Published: October 16, 2006
PARIS France offered Monday to hold an international donor conference on economic reconstruction in Lebanon in January. The offer was in response to a Lebanese government request, President Jacques Chirac's office said in a statement. At a first conference in Stockholm, Sweden, in late August, the United States, Europe and Gulf states pledged nearly US$1 billion to help Lebanon recover from a crippling war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.
That money was earmarked for rebuilding infrastructure, clearing unexploded Israeli bombs and restoring social services. Another donors' conference was planned for long-term reconstruction. Chirac's office said France "is prepared to host" the conference in January.
The announcement came on the eve of an Arab economic and finance ministers' meeting in Beirut, also to drum up economic aid for Lebanon's reconstruction. During 34 days of fighting, Israeli warplanes destroyed many Lebanese roads and bridges. Some 130,000 housing units were also destroyed or damaged in Israel's offensive, official said. Lebanon has said the country needs about US$3.5 billion to repair.
PARIS France offered Monday to hold an international donor conference on economic reconstruction in Lebanon in January.
The offer was in response to a Lebanese government request, President Jacques Chirac's office said in a statement.
At a first conference in Stockholm, Sweden, in late August, the United States, Europe and Gulf states pledged nearly US$1 billion to help Lebanon recover from a crippling war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.
That money was earmarked for rebuilding infrastructure, clearing unexploded Israeli bombs and restoring social services. Another donors' conference was planned for long-term reconstruction. Chirac's office said France "is prepared to host" the conference in January.
The announcement came on the eve of an Arab economic and finance ministers' meeting in Beirut, also to drum up economic aid for Lebanon's reconstruction. During 34 days of fighting, Israeli warplanes destroyed many Lebanese roads and bridges. Some 130,000 housing units were also destroyed or damaged in Israel's offensive, official said.
Lebanon has said the country needs about US$3.5 billion to repair.
Power and the people
Hizbullah's rise as a political force highlights the need for new a democratic structure in Lebanon.
Adla Massoud
s October 17, 2006 02:00
He declared war against Israel without the prior consent of the Lebanese government or people. Now, three months later, Hizbullah's victorious leader Hassan Nasrallah has become an icon in the Arab world, with corresponding electoral clout. He's using that power to challenge the US backed March 14 Alliance to dissolve the current government in favor of a national unity government.
Joining him onto the political stage is the eccentric Maronite Catholic Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, who sees himself as the future president of Lebanon. He has told Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that he will wear him out, and that he will not let him rest until he is gone.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's responded that the Lebanese people were "happy with this government and it is here to stay". But are they? Not according to a recent poll published by the Beirut Centre for Research and Information, which indicates more than 70% of the country supports the formation of a national unity government, including a surprising 71% of Christians and, more predictably, more than 90% of Shias.
Bringing in allied Christian leader Michel Aoun is seen as Hizbullah's main aim. By adding Aoun-backed cabinet ministers to Hizbullah's two ministers, the allies hope for a blocking one-third minority in government. Nasrallah commands the loyalty of nearly all Shias. And Aoun, according to the poll, was clear favourite to be president. Almost half of Lebanese people across the sects chose him; among Christians he scored 39%. No one else came close.
Even though there has been no census since 1932 for fear of destabilising the political system, Christians have become the new minority and Shias the new majority. The Christians comprise 25% of the population; as for Shias, they are now believed to be the largest single group, making up around 40%.
Hizbullah's emergence as a political party and armed militia was, in large measure, a response to the demographic shift. In effect, it stepped in for Shias, particularly in the southern hills along the border with Israel, who felt the government did not represent them.
Even Israel and the Bush administration have insisted that Hizbullah disarm and fully join the Lebanese political process. But because Lebanon's political institutions do not reflect Hizbullah's wider support in the population, the militant Shia Muslim movement has made it clear that greater changes will be needed before it lays down its arms. For the better or for the worse, it's time for the Lebanese government to build a new political structure that represents all sectarian groups equally. Give the Shias a share of power that reflects their true place, and let the rights of the minority groups be protected.
It would likely change Lebanon's orientation significantly. But a refusal to acknowledge the demographic change would be a recipe for further internal conflict. The choice is clear: either build a true non-religious democratic state that empowers all Lebanese citizens regardless of their faith, or face disintegration.
Who Is Selfish?
C.D. Mohatta-American Chronicles
Who is not selfish in this world? Are all of us selfish? Do we always think of ourselves first? Will you call me selfish even if I donate a large part of my earnings? When will you call me a selfish person, and when will you say that I am not selfish? For that which qualities are needed in me? One more question - is selfishness bad always? Could the world have gone so forward if people were not selfish? Selfishness and selflessness, these two words can make us think about our society, our values, the world in bigger perspective, and ourselves. Let us begin.
A family earns money first to feed itself. If something extra is left, it may give a part to the society. It is for the family to decide about how much it will save for itself first and when and how much part of its surplus will it give to the society. If a family decides to save at least a year's expenses for itself and begin donating only after that, will you call it selfish? This is very subjective assessment. Am I correct? Another family, which has saved nothing for itself but begun donating, can call the earlier family selfish, and the earlier family can advise the second family to save for the rainy days first. This all sounds so confusing.
For example let us talk of two very good friends. One of them forgets to bring a very essential thing to the examination, say - a calculator. He/she requests the best friend to lend a calculator for the examination, but the other friend refuses. Which of these two friends is selfish? The person who is requesting the calculator after forgetting to bring it, or the person who refuses to lend it? How much for myself and how much for you? This question comes at a very stage of our life. For example- parents will not know how to divide if all the children want the same piece of cake. Every one of us has his/her opinion on this subject. It is our values and emotions that govern our definition of selfishness. Some of us may think nothing of giving away our life for fellow countrymen and some of us horde so much wealth for themselves that they do not know what to do with that. One can keep on talking and presenting arguments and examples infinitum, but no two persons will agree about this subject fully, because their perceptions are different.
LEBANON: New school year gets underway with few hitches
16 Oct 2006 -Source: IRIN
Background-Lebanon crisis
More BEIRUT/ANSARIYEH, 16 October (IRIN) - Thousands of children returned to school across Lebanon on Monday after a summer of war, destruction and displacement. "I am happy to be back in school," said 11-year-old Fatima Aasi, who goes to school in her home town of Ansariyeh, 30km south of Beirut. "During the war we were very scared, but now I feel like things will be normal again."
After the United Nations-brokered ceasefire that ended the 34-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah on 14 August, the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the UN children's agency (UNICEF), initiated a national back-to-school campaign with a commitment to ensuring that children in public schools could begin classes on October 16 – three weeks later than the usual start date.
"We don't know how many schools have, realistically speaking, been able to open their gates today," said Lara Ali Ahmed, education officer for the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF). "Most directors across the south were keen to meet the set date, but it remains uncertain how many have been able to do so." Ali Ahmed estimated that approximately 85 percent of children in primary education were able to return to school, but that it would be impossible to determine how widespread initial school attendance was until next month. At the more than 50 schools in Lebanon that have been completely destroyed, children are attending school in neighbouring villages, using double shifts when necessary. Other schools were not directly damaged by the conflict, but housed many displaced who fled their homes. These schools required cleaning and minor repairs.
UNICEF has worked closely with the Ministry of Education to find solutions to ensure access to classrooms where schools have suffered varying degrees of damage. UNICEF is distributing school bags and stationery to children across southern Lebanon and the Beqaa valley – the two areas outside the southern suburbs of Beirut that suffered the greatest destruction in the conflict. "For children, their ability to return to school guarantees a return of a certain degree of normalcy," Roberto Laurenti, UNICEF representative in Beirut, said.
Various obstacles
However, there remain various obstacles to a complete resumption of normal life, not least the heavy damage incurred to infrastructure in southern Lebanon. "During the war, I used to pray that the bombs would not strike our house. Now, there is still a lot of destruction, so I still don't feel like everything is normal yet," said 10-year-old Hawra Hekmet Rmeh. Ansariyeh government school suffered much damage from the bombing of a nearby house. "There is still shattered glass in the playground," said Ali Ahmed. "Part of the complete resumption of normalcy requires that the school environment also be safe." Many displaced children in southern Lebanon, particularly along the southern border with Israel, have not been able to return to schools in their own towns and villages because of damage to school buildings. "All the children have suffered emotionally from this war," said teacher Fatme Dib. "There is no doubt that those who are far away from their homes, living in rented flats or with relatives while their family home is rebuilt, will suffer the scars for a longer time."However, the education ministry, UNICEF, teachers, parents and students alike appeared optimistic that this would be a good school year in spite of the difficulties. Damaged and destroyed schools have for the most part not been repaired, but the United Arab Emirates government has pledged to foot the bill for the rehabilitation of all schools in southern Lebanon, both private and public. According to Ahmed Ali, coordination continues to be underway for the reconstruction to take place.
Beirut book shortage
In Beirut, 25,000 students endured rain and heavy traffic to go back to school.
"All 19 high schools and 56 elementary and primary schools of the capital opened normally today," said Mehyeddine Kechly, head of Beirut public schools in the Lebanese Ministry of Education. "Of course, war imposed some changes. Some of the schools are overloaded with students, others not, but we are prepared to provide them with extra spaces, thanks to NGOs and the [governmental] Committee of Education and Research," he added.
In the capital, the main problem was a lack of books. The Ministry of Education said it expected the book problem to be solved in 10 days, as donations promised by the UAE were still on their way. However, not all students were so pleased to be back after such a miserable summer. "Excited? Of course not!" said Sarah, 12, as she prepared to go to a class in Dekwaneh in the eastern suburbs of Beirut. Until recently, her school housed some 250 displaced people from southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of the capital. "We didn't have much of a summer," she told IRIN, "we just watched TV the whole time and stayed home."This mood is magnified in southern Lebanon, where many children feel that the two-month-old ceasefire will not hold up for long. "I feel like there will be another war soon," said Fatima Abbas, 10, who attends Ansariyeh government school. "I feel afraid when I hear planes in the sky. But I also feel happy – if there is another war, at least I will have seen my friends beforehand at school."