Pip Hinman
Keysar Trad, who was instrumental in organising the two Sydney rallies against Israel's bombing of Lebanon and Gaza, thinks the current ceasefire is a farce. "Israel ignores it at will", he told Green Left Weekly.
On whether the United States-Israeli plans to attack Syria and Iran had been dealt a blow, Trad said the irrationality of both the US and Israeli regimes should make us cautious. "Israel agreed to the ceasefire because it was losing on two fronts - militarily and in the area of public opinion. The US government has been on a warpath for nearly five years, and it is likely to pay little heed to the lessons from Lebanon", Trad said.
Washington may take "some more precautions", such as providing more missiles to Israel and preparing more troops, "but they will still push on", he said. "The present US administration allows neither reason nor logic to interfere with its plans."
Trad told GLW that Israel's three-day delay in implementing the ceasefire agreed on August 11, and its inability to provide a plausible reason for its brutal bombing of Lebanon, are reasons enough to be gloomy about the prospects for peace.
Trad, who convenes the Islamic Friendship Society, praised Venezuela's diplomatic stance during the bombing. The government of President Hugo Chavez recalled its charge d'affaires from Tel Aviv. For that, Trad said, "Venezuela is the new hero of the Arabs and Muslims the world over".
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon, including in the far north of the country. All Lebanese-Australian families have relatives or know someone who has been affected.
"[Israel] has demolished apartments and shops belonging to my cousins, second cousins and uncles", Trad said. "The total losses incurred would approximate $10 million. In addition, five of my relatives were hit with shrapnel, requiring hospitalisation.
"This is senseless savagery that went beyond Israel's usual collective punishment. The north had nothing to do with the conflict, or with Hezbollah. The [people of the north] were not even of the same denomination. This is Israel's shame and Lebanon's misery."
According to the United Nations, clean drinking water is a priority concern, as most water tanks and pipe networks in the Tyre region have been destroyed. The whole Sidon region is heavily contaminated with unexploded ordnance and de-mining will take months.
Despite the humanitarian disaster in Lebanon - with roads, bridges, apartment blocks, shops and schools destroyed - the Australian government's aid response has been measly. The heart-rending images of aid workers trying to get boxes of food across creeks and rivers on foot doesn't seem to have moved the Howard government.
"To my knowledge, the Australian government has promised just $7.5 million to Lebanon. God only knows how much it is giving Israel", Trad said.
Compare this to Kuwait, he continued, which pledged US$800 million, or to Qatar, which pledged to rebuild the entire town of Bint Jbeil. "Australia's response has been one of contemptuous disregard."
While the Lebanese put their lives back together, with the support of extended families outside of Lebanon, Muslims and those from Arabic backgrounds are experiencing a new wave of racism. Trad has received abusive phone calls and hate mail, and has received reports of others being harassed. "While we have noticed sympathy from many Australians, the pro-Israeli rhetoric from the Howard camp has been interpreted by some as a licence for racism against Australians of Lebanese background."