00:06
National holiday in Lebanon. On 22 November, the Lebanese celebrate their independence from French colonial power with a military parade.
0:28
The Republic of Lebanon was founded 68 years ago. The army should be the guarantor of state sovereignty. But the generals are struggling to with the armed rivals in their own country. They need some help.
00:52
At night, 154 Austrian soldiers land in Beirut.
00:56
Good day, Mrs. Ambassador.
01:05
It's a warm winter in Lebanon, and the country is a real hotspot. But the Austrians are optimistic.
01:14 Sabine Steinbauer – Seargant
If I was scared, I could not go anywhere. I have to remind myself that I can make the best out of any situation and that I am well prepared, and that I know that I am well prepared, and for this reason I can take responsibility.
01:27
The soldiers have arrived to support the UN’s peacekeeping mission, known as UNIFIL. The headquarters are located on the border with Israel, 90 kilometers south of Beirut. The capital is adorned with Christmas decorations. The night clubs are full. It’s easy to forget that it’s the midldle of a conflict region. Beirut is a city that will not be brought down, and the people here like to party.
02:13
In a student café, Middle East expert Karin Kneissl keeps ups with Austrian news. She’s reading newspaper reports about the Austrian participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
02:30 Karin Kneissl - Middle East Expert
“The Courier has a somewhat sensational text about the dangers of this mission… it’s hard to say now, but it sounds as if the Austrian soldiers were going to fight Hezbollah, which is not their job. The mission of the Austrian soldiers is to support the Lebanese army in order to support their sovereignty. A friend sent me this text and is angry because he thinks that this could jeopardize the operation. I tried to calm him by saying that I don’t think anyone in the Hezbollah reads the Courier."
03:06
Karin Kneissl travells a lot. But her haven is here, in this southeastern region of Austria. She moves back here to write her books on the Middle East.
3:22
She became interested in this region when she was very young, and when Lebanon was still regarded the ‘Switzerland of the Middle East’. Her parents - an AUA pilot and stewardess – loved to spend their time off work in the glittering, cosmopolitan Beirut.
03:41
Karin Kneissl learnt Arabic and began to commute between Lebanon and Austria. The lawyer and former diplomat now works as a consultant and lecturer at various universities at home and abroad. She’s been studying the role and success prospects of the UNIFIL for several years.
04.04
Karin Kneissl Middle East Expert
„When I was 17, I put all my energy, my enthusiasm into this issue, This could not be rationally understoond, because 17 year-olds usually are interested in other things than a war zone. At that time, I just wanted to know more, so I wrote a letter to the President of Lebanon, which he replied to, and I brought it back triumphantly to school, this possibly made me look a little less crazy in the eyes of students and teachers… But the first small step was made. Contact with the president who was still standing”
04:36
The president at the time was Amin Gemayel. The main street of this Christian neighborhood in Beirut is named after his father, the very first president of independent Lebanon. The Gemayel political dynasty belongs to the pope-abiding Christian Maronite Church. The Lebanese head of state is, by constitution, always a Maronite.
5:01
We visit the former President.
5:11
The house is heavily guarded. Gemayel’s brother and son both fell victim to assassination.
05:20
Karin Kneissl wants to know how her old friend assesses the UN peacekeeping mission. His right-wing party is oriented towards the West and welcomes the international mission.
05:30
Amin Gemayel Ex-Presidend of Lebanon
„All Lebanese parties agree on the need to protect the southern region. At the moment the situation is stable, peaceful and secure. The mission of UNIFIL is to ensure that this broad national consensus is implemented in the border area. The UN troops are to prevent troublemakers from destabilizing the region”
6:01
Only a few ruins are left to remind us of the civil war which took place between 1975 and 1990.
6:14
The economy is flourishing now. But stability in this country is fragile. 18 Christian- and Muslim-oriented groups share the power here within an inflexible system of proportional representation. In the struggle for influence, each group receives support from abroad. Especially from America, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Iran and of course from Syria.
6:35
Karin Kneissl Middle East expert
"It is crazy when you think how close Syria is, where many border towns suffer from horrific massacres, which we are not even aware of. And it was similar during the war. When bombs fell over West Beirut, the people in East Beirut gazed over as they lay in the pools. It’s as if they looked through a telescope, but it did not effect them. And when the people in West Beirut were living the sweet life, it all went down in the Christian neighborhood. "
7:08
Karin and her friend Nathalie and her son, go on a trip to the nearby mountains inhabited by different ethnic groups. The Druze minority live here peddling their agricultural products in peace; but just north of the border is the high-tensioned Syria.
7:35
Karin Kneissl Middle East expert
"When you’re is abroad, you probably worry more than if you were in the middle of the crisis. When there was trouble in Lebanon, like in the summer of 2006, I tried to call you every day, to check if everything was okay and Nathalie just said: ‘yes, yeah, it’s fine, everything is okay, it’s peaceful’ ... "
7:54
Nathalie Melki jeweler
"I grew up with it. We’d driven to school during bombings too. Now I can’t imagine my kids going to school with the bombs falling. It feels much too distant to me now"
08:09
The developments are rapid here. A new, Western-oriented generation has grown up with a long-standing conflict which they feel has nothing to do with them.
8:19
Nathalie's 15-year-old son Marc finds disputes such this recent TV debate ridiculous. Government and opposition representatives are discussing Syria ... and picking up a real fight.
08:44
In almost all Arab states, the youth are rebelling against authoritarian regimes. But in Lebanon there is no dictatorship. But while it might not have been affected, university students follow the events of the Arab Spring very carefully.
8:59
Amanda Lebbos student
“The current upheavals in the other Arab countries will influence the internal politics of Lebanon. The Lebanese Christians are divided on the issue of Syria: some advocate the regime of Assad, while others were always against him. And among the Muslims there are formations of Shiites, like Hezbollah, which will lose power if the Assad regime is overthrown. This means that the Arab spring will have an impact on Lebanon, but it will not be very dramatic ".
9:39
Karin Kneissl is holding a lecture at the American University of Beirut. This university is an important hub for the elites of the Arab world.
9:50
Karin Kneissl Middle East expert
"The young people here today come mostly from the Gulf. The AUB, American University has benefited in some measure from 9/11 attacks because many wealthy families in the Arab states have thought to themselves: ‘why should we send our children to the United States or Europe, with all the visa trouble; we’re better off sending them to Beirut. They’ll be within the Arab world, but in a very American atmosphere. "
10:12
10:20
Karin Kneissl gives a lecture on the regional energy sector development to politics students.
10:34
Lebanon has no petrol, but has lately discovered rich gas reserves off the coast. Other countries have claimed a right to them too; new conflicts seem neverending.
10: 59
Lebanon has always been fiercly fought over. The port city of Byblos held a key position in the times of the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Crusaders.
11:13
Kneissl taught here during the war in 1990. She knowns the Maronite Salim El Sayegh from that time. In order to better assess future developments, she questions the former Minister of Social Affairs about the recent developments of the gas fields dispute in the Mediterranean. Apart from Lebanon, both Israel, Cyprus, and Turkey have also set their eyes on them.
What will this lead to?
11:43
Selim el Sayegh Opposition politician
"In any case, there is a danger. Israel has already begun the gas fields exploration. With their new technologies, they could also exploit the reserves on the Lebanese side. This could lead to a broader conflict, which could mean another armed conflict between the two countries. It’s another case which should be considered by the UN Security Council, because it might threaten international peace and security.”
12: 22
People here have had enough of wars.
The annual marathon in Beirut embodies a symbol for the vitality and hope for peace, which keeps the city going despite of all adversities.
12:41
Karin Kneissl Middle East expert
“The Beirut marathon makes me very emotional, it brings tears to my eyes, because it’s taking place in a district near the American University and the old Hamra shopping street, where chaos anarchy reigned for decades, where people had to escape to bunkers for hours, for days, and the fact there is life here again, that young people are on the road as Red Cross volunteers, not to help the wounded or for protection, but simply to ensure that none of the athletes get hurt. This is a wonderful development.”
13:22
Palestinian children take part in the fun race too. Of the 400,000 Palestinians living in the country, half of them in are living in camps.
13:31 Tania Owies social worker
"We are trying our best to give them at least one of their basic rights, just like running in wide places, you know we don’t have a place like this, a wide place and safe places in our camps and gatherings. So here they find their lost soul, I guess”
13:55
The Palestinian journalist Gaby Jammal leads us through the desolate refugee camp Shatila. These kids do not know what it means to be stateless.
14:08 – Gabi Jamal - Journalist
“Actually, the Lebanese government said officially, really that they don’t want us to stay here because we will break the balance of the Lebanese unique formula, which we are not responsible for. But because of this, they practice a certain policy to push us to go. They deprive us of practising 75 jobs till now. I’m a journalist but I’m not allowed to be in the sindicate, I’m not registered, I don’t have pension, I don’t have any kind of health care, by the way, I have to pay for all. And more – all these people are not allowed to buy an apartment in Lebanon, or shop, you know that? They’re not allowed. If you don’t dry the resources of terrorism, people will later go bad”
14:48
The government must break this vicious circle, because this misery is a breeding ground for terrorism.
14:58
People have been living here for 3 to 4 generations, clinging onto the hope that one day they will be able to return to Palestine. Neighbouring Arab countries have supported them, but they have sometimes set them off in the wrong direction. Karin Kneissl wants to find out what people think would happen if the Syrian regime was to collapse.
15:22
Noone here wants to talk about domestic Lebanese politics in front of the camera.
15:26
But the people’s thoughts on the UN can be seen on the city walls.
15:32 Karin Kneissl Middle East expert
"On this poster the United Nations are shown as allies of Israel. Noone here really thinks about the UNIFIL. But the UN has a very bad reputation over here in general.”
15:54
We finally have the permission to travel to the south of the country, where the Austrians are stationed. Jammal comes with us. This is were the majority of the Shiites live and where the Islamist movement Hezbollah has its base. Armed resistance struggle and years of social work among the impoverished population has made it the strongest power factor in Lebanon.
16:20
We happen to pass these two women on our way and we give them a lift.
16:27
They want to visit a cemetery, where some of their relatives are buried.
16:41
It is a special cemetery - a memorial to civilian victims of Israeli attacks in the summer of 2006. This is when the Israeli army and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah led bloody battles for a month. More than 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis were killed. Hezbollah had provoked the war - and came out stronger. In the eyes of many Lebanese, they had achieved what the national army could not: to defend the country’s sovereignty from Israel.
17:17
Today, Hezbollah is the strongest faction in the Beirut parliament. It is classified as a terrorist organization in the US, but not in Europe. Ali Fayyad, the political chief strategist of Hezbollah, receives us in the Parliament.
17:41 MP Ali Fayyad of Hizbullah
"We are not terrorists. We, maybe we are the biggest popular party in Lebanon, we have a big part in Parliament, and we have moderate policies. We are in alliance with the biggest Christian party in the country. But on the other side, we are a resistance. Because there is still a small Lebanese territory occupied by the Israelis, and it is impossible for the Lebanese army to face the Israeli army. Then we need the resistance as a strategic tool to defend ourselves and to liberate the occupied Lebanese territories.”
18:36
The Lebanese army is led mostly by Christians. It does not manage to disarm or to intergrate Hezbollah. For the first time now, with the help of UN peacekeepers, the state has gained some control over the entire area. We come to Naqoura in the southwest to visit the UNIFIL headquarters.
18:58 Thomas Erkinger commanding officer
"My first mission was ten years ago between 2001 to 2002 as Austrian commanding officer in Kosovo. "
19:08
160 experienced Austrian professional soldiers and reservists voluntarily take part in this mission. Among them are medics, logisticians, drivers and mechanics.
19:24
(The mechanic says ..“depending on the situation…“)
19:36
Their main task is to transport people and equipment, to retrieve and repair UNIFIL vehicles, and to ensure the supply of fuel. Their responsibilities are clearly defined.
19:49
Thomas Erkinger, commanding officer
"We operate under national law. Each soldier learns the code of conduct in the operational area during their training. In military terms, it means… commitment, and a a clear definition of what the soldier is and isn’t allowed to do. These rules also include the use of weapons, which in this area is limited to self-defense and emergency response only. "
20:16
A total of around 12,000 soldiers from 35 countries take part in the UNIFIL mission. The mandate was extended 6 years ago. Initially, only 2,000 peacekeepers were stationed here.
20:30
International atmosphere, pleasant temperature, sea view...? Don’t be fooled; the situation here is anything but relaxed.
20.51 Thomas Erkinger – commanding officer
“Under no circumstances are we allowed to take pictures within the area we are responsible for. This means the photos we take are limited to the camp. We also don’t carry weapons openly when talking to the to the local population; the idea is to de-escalate our image”
21:20
The environment may be picturesque, but someone who take pictures in this area is considered spy not a tourist.
21:30
On Friday, five French UNIFIL soldiers were injured during an explosion in the port town of Tyre. France suspects Hezbollah and Syria are behind the attack. But noone has yet claimed responsibility.
21:46
When we visited Tyre a week before the attack, there was friendly atmosphere in the air. Italian peacekeepers chatted with the mayor, who is not a suporter of Hezbollah.
22:12
UNIFIL’s mission in Southern Lebanon involves more than observation and humanitarian aid provision. Their mission is to prevent rockets being fired from Lebanon into Israel, and stopping Israel from violating the Lebanese airspace. So far the mission has not been successful in this respect. But its presence has prevented a major military conflict. Thanks the the UN’s presence, people have been able to carry on with their lives. They have been through enough wars.
22:48 Karin Kneissl, Middle East Expert
“This region is the cradle of civilization, and they regret the current situation… the Alphabet, agricultural advances, it all started here.”
23:00
In contrast to the cosmopolitan Beirut, southern Lebanese are conservative Muslims. Undisciplined behaviour of the soldiers will not tolerated here, warn the local mayor and his son.
23:16 Mohammad el Husseini lawyer
“The persons of the Austrian contingent who live here as our children, as much as they respect our traditions and culture”
23.22
And what do young people here think of the peacekeepers?
23.27
Omran Mustapha
"Like in the borders, before there’s no UNIFIL, for example, there will be many problems between Israel and South Lebanon. But when there’s UNIFIL, both sides will respect UNIFIL, we are respecting, the people here will respect UNIFIL, and the Israelis will respect UNIFIL; they have their special words to say, they can fix any problem, they can fix it without any wars, the cities area calm”
23.59
But in the eyes of this young woman, the UN peacekeeping forces are an occupying force… She describes herself as a supporter of Hezbollah.
24:09
Gina Gargoei Student / DANIELA
“We don’t accept to interfere, or to search, or to get information to Israel, because Israel is an enemy. But if they have their limits, or boundaries, we don’t have any problem towards them. Especially according to the resistors, the Lebanese resistors, Hezbollah especially”
24.27
Around the corner is a destroyed wine bar, which the UN soldiers used to visit. The explosion caused no casualties. Noone has claimed responsibility for the attack; Hezbollah rejects any blame.
24.45
The attacks have intensified over the last month. Are they a warning to the West from Syria? Noone knows for sure.
24:55
Many trusted that everything was getting better. Settlements on the border with Israel, ruined in 2006, were at last being rebuilt.
25.18 Jammal journalist Gaby
"People if they don’t feel safe that the UNIFIL are here, they wouldn’t really rebuild houses and even make it bigger and larger and more beautiful. Additional to the money given by, lets say, Hezbollah, or the government – but they put their own money too.”
25:35
According to their opponents, Hezbollah stock their weapons in this seemingly quiet area. Israel criticises the peacekeepers for not stemming the smuggling of weapons. Hezbollah criticises them for allowing Israel’ to violate the Lebanese airspace. The UN Mission is cought in the middle.
25:59 MP Ali Fayyad of Hezbollah
"We believe that the international community, the United Nations, the Security Council and then the UNIFIL are not serious enough to help Lebanon in facing the Israeli attacks.”
26.30 Thomas Erkinger commanding officer
“We don’t fall to any bias, we are impartial to all parties involved in the conflict.”
26:37
26:32
They claim to be impartial, and yet are accused of bias from both sides... Can they really achieve anything?
26.47 Selim El Sayeh Opposition politician
"Without UNIFIL, the Lebanese army would be unable to maintain order in southern Lebanon. The presence of UN troops not only prevents a war, but also makes it possible to strengthen state institutions, for when Lebanon is able to take full control over the state.”
27:08
The head of the army is pro-Western. But Hezbollah has always been supported by Iran and Syria. In the streets of Beirut, Hezbollah supporters are cheering for the Syrian regime, which has come under increasing pressure.
27.30 Karin Kneissl Middle East expert
“The Lebanese army is currently slowly regaining the monopoly of violence. The main sticking point is that Hezbollah wil not return its weapons. And as long as it does not integrate with the army, the army does not control the whole territory. The aim of UNIFIL is to strengthen the army in order to restore the sovereignity of the country.”
28:07
But as long as Lebanon remains a proxy war of foreign powers, the pursuit of independence will remain hard work.