Lebanese demostrators attacked by Israeli forces

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Lebanese demonstrators were attacked by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Friday in southern border of Lebanon.

According to Anadolu Agency, IDF police hurled smoke bombs at Lebanese demonstrators who were protesting the IDF’s bulldozing of their land in front of the Kafr Shuba border crossing in southern Lebanon.

The demonstrators also carried out protests in solidarity with Ismail Nasser, an elderly Lebanese shepherd, who on Wednesday put his body on the line to stop an Israeli Army bulldozer digging a trench through his land.

Once the villager’s legs were covered with sand as the bulldozer moved ahead, UN peacekeepers jumped in and convinced the Israeli driver to move back.

The land is near the UN-recognised Blue Line—the Lebanon-Israel border—and the Israelis attempted to dig this trench to establish a new limit of the Blue Line, which is disputed by these local farmers.

calling on the parties “to continue to avail of our liaison and coordination mechanisms while avoiding unilateral actions.”

Lebanon frequently complains of daily Israeli violations of its airspace and territorial waters and has filed several complaints with the United Nations.

Mohammed Mortada, Lebanon’s caretaker culture minister, said: “Are the Israelis so stupid as to think that tear gas canisters will stop landowners and right holders from responding to their violations?”

In 2000, the Israeli army ended an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon and withdrew from the majority of the Lebanese southern towns, creating a withdrawal line known as the Blue Line.

Neither the Kfarchouba hills nor the Chebaa farms were freed, as the UN considered their status part of a future peace deal. However, the Lebanese government and Hezbollah declared this region Lebanese territory.