Fateful Triangle

Peace for Galilee416activities in the region.” Relief gathered by Israelis was not distributed orwas given to Lebanese army units. Milk collected in Haifa was notdistributed in Tyre on the grounds that “they (the Arabs) ruin theirstomachs with our milk.” The IDF command refused to permit hugearmy water carriers to be used for the tens of thousands of peoplesuffering from thirst and hunger for days on the Sidon beaches. “I willnot send one IDF vehicle or driver into that mob,” Yirmiah was told bythe commanding officer, who also refused to allow him to enter Sidon tohelp because there might be danger: “It is better that 1000 Arabsshould die and not one of our soldiers,” the commanding officer said.Refugees from camps that were flattened were forbidden to pitchtents, though these were in plentiful supply (later, Israeli authoritieswere to place the blame on the Lebanese and international organizationsfor this), a decision that is “evil and inhuman, and it teaches us themeaning of the ‘humanitarianism’ that [the military commander] boastsof on television.” Travelling near Tyre, Yirmiah came across the refugeesfrom Rashidiyeh who were camping in citrus groves near their destroyedtown. A military commander ordered that they be driven away because“they are being filmed too much.” “It is important to preserve thebeautiful face of Israel,” Yirmiah comments. He hears reports on theIsraeli radio of the wonderful humanitarian efforts of the IDF and theIsraeli population: “evidently, we learned something from the fascistpropagandists in Europe,” Yirmiah comments in despair, from the scene.He reports the fakery and invention of ridiculously low numbers ofcasualties and destroyed buildings, and the lies about humanitarianismand “purity of arms.” “The Jewish soldier, the Israeli, who is crowned byhypocritical commanders and politicians as the most human in theworld; the Israeli army that pretends to observe the purity of arms (aphrase that is sickening and false)—is changing its image” (Yirmiah isnot above certain illusions about the past).Classics in Politics: The Fateful TriangleNoam Chomsky