Lebanese to NY Times: ‘Of Course Hezbollah is Responsible’ For Civilian Deaths
Video footage showing Hezbollah exploiting civilian area
The fact that Hezbollah hid behind Lebanese civilians during its war with Israel this summer is not news for most people. At the time, the New York Times, for example, reported on such instances here and here.
With the release of a new study by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center using declassified images, the Times today has a comprehensive article on the subject. Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese Army general, agrees with the Israeli accusations that Hezbollah took cover behind civilians:
“Of course there are hidden invisible tunnels, bunkers of missile launchers, bunkers of explosive charges amongst civilians. . . .
Asked whether Hezbollah should be seen responsible for the deaths of Lebanese civilians in the war, he replied: “Of course Hezbollah is responsible. But these people are ready to sacrifice their lives for Hezbollah. If you tell them, ‘Your relative died,’ they will tell you, ‘No, he was a martyr.’ The party’s military preparations from 2000 till 2006 took place in their areas. They were of course done with complete secrecy, but in accordance with the civilians.”
Hanna knows it. Hezbollah knows it. I know it. You know it. The only ones who don’t know it are UCLA English prof Saree Makdisi and Nicholas Goldberg, editor of the Op-Ed page at the Los Angeles Times, who has yet to substantiate or correct Makdisi’s outrageous assertions. Send polite requests for an overdue correction to Goldberg ([email protected]) and to LA Times Readers Representative Jamie Gold ([email protected]).
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