Qana massacre's third anniversary
Lebanon-Israel, Editorial, 4/19/1999

At dawn April 11, 1996, Israel started brutal attacks against Lebanon. Explosions were heard everywhere, while Israeli warplanes were striking every village and town. It was a barbarous war by all means.

The "Grapes of Wrath," the name Israel gave to the military operation against Lebanon that lasted for 16 days, during which Israel unmasked its ugly face. But the ugliest operation was the one carried out on April 18, 1996 in the UNIFIL center and the massacre of al-Manouri ambulance car.

Few know that the name the Grapes of Wrath has religious implications. Israeli Rabbi Moshe Cohen explained that the word "grapes" came from the fact that grapes occupied the first position among the seven fruits mentioned in the Talmud, which means that the "grapes of wrath" means anger of the Jewish people.

Some 109 Lebanese civilians were killed in Qana and other 127 were wounded. Just from one family, the Balhas family, some 27 were killed, as were eight persons from Jaafar family and 27 persons from Ismael family.

Israel then bombarded, using 155 min shells and phosphorus bombs the headquarters of UNIFIL, where civilians sought sanctuary from Israeli bombardment of their village.

Commemorating this unforgettable event, a mass rally was held in the martyrs' cemetery in Qana, south Lebanon on Sunday. Several Lebanese and Syrian political, cultural, spiritual and media figures as well as families of martyrs and a crowd of people attended the rally in which made speeches commending the sacrifices offered in defence of Lebanon and denouncing the Israeli criminal acts of aggression and terrorism.

The speakers vowed to stand firm against ugly Israeli schemes and to continue voicing all-out support for the Lebanese resistance and asserted cohesion between the Syrian and Lebanese peace tracks.

Furthermore, tens of thousands of Lebanese people flocked to the cemetery of Qana's martyrs to place wreaths on their tombs. The site of the cemetery was draped with slogans condemning Israel's brutality and calling for backing Syria and Lebanon against Israel.

At the meantime, speech rallies were held throughout Lebanon, condemning the Israeli crime and calling for the implementation of UN resolution 425 provides for Israel's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon and the western Bekaa.

Previous Stories:
  US distinguishes between resistance and terrorism   (12/4/1998)
  Arab Parliamentarians to convene in Beirut on the occasion of Qana massacre   (7/15/1998)
  Lebanon marks second anniversary of Israeli massacre at Qana   (4/20/1998)
  U.S. ambassador moved by Qana massacre site   (12/9/1997)
  To Qana with Love   (8/23/1997)

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