War in Lebanon, a defeat for Israeli intelligentsia

August 15, 2006

Bethlehem- Ma'an- Nasir Al-Lahham- It seems that the war in Lebanon has defeated the Israeli intelligentsia before its politicians and military men, which is the most dangerous type of defeat to a society. This was the situation of the Arab intelligentsia after the 1967 defeat.

Writers, journalists, poets, caricaturists and political analysts were all describing the defeat as they experienced it. Some of them blamed the world, others blamed Israeli leadership and a third part blamed the Palestinians for decreasing the Israeli army's fitness. However, all of them neglected the fact that a defeat is a defeat whose taste no chocolate can change.

Despite the generous financial compensation that the Israeli government gave to its citizens, they insisted on a fact-finding committee.

Residents of Kiryat Shmona admitted on TV screen that they spent the night in shelters because they do not trust their army about the cease-fire. They also said that they could be relaxed only if the Lebanese resistance told them to go back home.

Akiva Eldar, the political editor at Haaretz, commented on the American president's claim that Hezbollah lost, saying: '" President Bush also said that the United States has won the war in Iraq. Do we have to believe him?”