Man loses left foot to land mine…(1)

A land mine seriously wounded a man on Sunday in Tallet Shoumarieh, near a former “Israeli” post.
Samih Mohammed Nasser, 37, from Deir Sirian, Marjayoun, was collecting firewood when the mine exploded.
The Red Cross took Nasser to Nabatieh Public Hospital where he underwent surgery to amputate his left foot and to extract shrapnel from other parts of his body. Hospital sources said that Nasser, who heads a family of seven, was in a stable condition.

Russia to help Lebanon remove landmines…(2)

“ A delegation of Russian emergency ministry officials left for Beirut Sunday to determine whether Russia will join the UN-sponsored demining operations in Lebanon, the ITAR-TASS news agency reported.

During its eight-day visit, the Russian workgroup is expected to hold talks with both the Lebanese leadership and UN representatives, but no documents would be signed, Deputy Emergency Minister Yuri Brazhnikov said.

Officials from other countries such as Switzerland may join the discussions on how best to remove some 100,000 landmines and missiles that litter southern Lebanon, Brazhnikov said.

Russian specialists have already destroyed landmines in Kosovo and Bosnia, and plan to participate in similar operations in Libya and Iraq.

Artists paint giant mural for intifada
Multinational Arab effort to encourage support for Palestinians…(3)

“Arab painters have begun sharing a single canvas in the creation of a long mural dedicated to the intifada. The mural has traveled from Syria and now hangs in Unesco Palace until Tuesday, before it heads to Bahrain and Kuwait.
The idea was born in the Monte Rosa tourist resort in Syria, where Syrian and Lebanese painters held a gathering in October. Prompted by resort owner Nabil al-Ijjeh, the artists resolved to each paint on a section of the canvas and pass it on to other artists in the Arab world. 12 Syrian and 27 Lebanese painters have already taken part. New additions are continuously being made, with the growing enthusiasm for the project.
The longest painting in the Guinness Book of World Records is 200 meters. According to Soha Sabbagh, one of the painters who coordinated the effort in Lebanon, the mural may be 70 meters long now, but it will break the world record by the time other Arab countries have left their mark.
The artists thus far have adopted various schools of painting and a myriad of styles.
The images depicted include suffering human figures and direct representations of the violence that is occurring on Palestinian streets. The confrontation of bullets and stones, “Israeli” torture cells, and the mass exodus of Palestinian refugees are present in the painted effort of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Likewise, Stars of David ­ whether stampeded or looming threateningly ­ are featured, to highlight what many artists intended as an outcry against Zionist brutality.
Adnan Haqqani’s painting, The Earth Woman, features a woman’s body undulating in the manner of a hilly landscape. One hand is “gripping the earth” and the other is turned skywards “in a plea for help,” the artist said.
Haqqani hoped the mural would make a world tour and “shake people’s conscience from its slumber.”
It is yet unknown how far the mural will travel, but any country where artists are eager to add to it is welcome to have it, said painter and project coordinator Mohammed Awali.
According to Awali, the mural has given Lebanese painters an opportunity “to state their political opinions through their work, which they could not do during the civil war.”
As he busily painted his part of the canvas with a dark, obtrusive grid over a flock of white peace doves, Mustafa Obeid said he enjoyed the interaction with the general public, who were allowed to watch the artists at work at Unesco Palace.
Among the Lebanese painters who took part were Wajih Nahleh, Aref Rayyes, Maroun Hakim, and Adel Qodeih, in addition to Sabbagh and Awali. Syrian artists included Leila Nseir, Asma Fayoumi, and Ghassan Nahnah.
A closing ceremony for the Lebanese section of the mural took place Sunday evening, before the mural continues its journey across the Arab world.

Two Palestinian Martyrs, 21 wounded…(4)

On the 101 day of Palestinian intifadah thousands of mourners participated Saturday in the funeral of two Palestinians martyred  by the “Israeli” troops. 21 others were wounded in “Israeli” attacks until Friday evening.

"Martyr be happy you're going to heaven" and a we sacrifice our souls and blood for you, Palestine",  the mourners charted.

19-year-old Arij al-Jabali was shot dead Friday night and an 18 year-old-girl was wounded in the chest when “Israeli” troops opened fire at their house in the West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron).

The “Israeli” army claimed they fired in response to an attack carried out by Palestinians against Beit Hajay Jewish settlement.

Palestinian witnesses confirmed that there was only children who were playing with fireworks in the area.

The other Palestinian martyr who was buried is Mohammed Abu Haseera, 37. He was shot dead on Thursday night by occupation troops.

“Israeli” occupation destroys more Palestinian properties…(5)

Early on Saturday, “Israeli” army bulldozers wiped out more than 150 thousand square meters of agricultural land belonging to Palestinians in Beit Lahia, north of Gaza Strip.

The bulldozers under the protection of the army also destroyed a number of greenhouses, witnesses said.

A house belonging to Palestinians was demolished.

The “Israeli” occupation since the start of the intifadah or uprising leveled thousands of acres of land in the Gaza Strip, cutting down olive trees and uprooting grape vineyards, under the claim that fire is opened at them.

On the other hand, “Israeli” troops severed their closure of the Gaza Strip after having divided it into three security zones.

Palestinian civilians were prevented from moving in and out of the Strip. A long queue of cars waited for hours at the entrance of Gaza but the “Israelis” prevented them from entering their city and fired shots in the air to terrorize the Palestinians.

Footnotes:

1-     The Daily Star, 8-1-2001.

2-     AFP, 8-1-2001.

3-     The Daily Star, 8-1-2001.

4-     Manar TV, 6-1-2001.

5-     Same source.