Hezbollah celebrates victories against Israel - in exhibit
Lebanon, Local, 2/13/1998

The Shiite Muslim Hizbullah guerrilla group inaugurated its yearly exhibition, which has become a tradition over the past few years, this time with marked confidence and more victories against Israeli troops in south Lebanon to report.

It is called the "Islamic Resistance Exhibition" and it has, for the last five years, provided a venue for Hizbullah to manifest its triumphs against Israeli occupiers and stir up sympathy for its fighters.

The exhibit includes handmade crafts created by former prisoners in Israeli jails that were made during their years in captivity, videotapes of Hizbullah's most triumphant operations against Israeli troops, paintings inspired by the fight against Israel and pictures of guerrillas engaged in fighting.

A large screen blares war music along while displaying pictures of famous Hizbullah ambushes and Israeli casualties being treated by paramedics as they are being transferred to Israel from south Lebanon. The pictures are taken from Israeli television.

On a table, military gear captured by the guerrillas from dead or fleeing Israeli troops are on display. The gear includes two helmets, two shoulder bags, binoculars, a torchlight and anti-personnel mines with Hebrew writing. The group claims some of the gear belonged to members of the Egoz unit, Israel's most elite army group which was responsible for several commando raids inside Lebanon.

Also on display this year, is a large model representing Israel's failed commando raid last year against Insariyeh on September 5, in which 12 soldiers were killed. It was the biggest loss for Israel in south Lebanon since 1985, when it set up the border zone in south Lebanon.

Another model shows an Israeli Merkava tank bombed out by the guerrillas.

Bloodied dead Israeli soldiers lay on the hilly terrain which represents south Lebanon's combat zone while guerrillas raise their hand in a sign of victory.

On sale are pictures of Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hizbullah's secretary-general, and his son Hadi, who was killed in a clash with Israeli troops last year. There are several donation boxes scattered around the exhibit, with a sign that reads: "The resistance is your honor and pride, support it."

"To tell you the truth, we came here by accident," said a Canadian woman who came with her husband to the exhibition. "But now I'm glad that we did. It is very moving," she added.

The exhibition opened Wednesday and will last till February 20.

Previous Stories:
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