Israel deliberately destroyed Lebanon's libraries, activist says
Quick Look
- Israeli forces deliberately destroyed libraries, archives and document repositories in southern Lebanon, resulting in the loss of rare manuscripts, first editions, old newspapers, personal correspondence and family archives.
- Hadi Bakdash, coordinator of the National Network for the Protection of Lebanon's Cultural Heritage, called on the international community to take protective measures.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Israel is conducting military operations in southern Lebanon as part of the conflict with Hezbollah, which has led to the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including cultural sites.
The Israeli military deliberately destroyed libraries, archives and document storage facilities in southern Lebanon.
As a result of the actions of Israeli forces, part of Lebanon's cultural and historical heritage was lost, including rare manuscripts, first editions, old newspapers and magazines, personal correspondence, diaries, photographs, and family archives.
The founder and coordinator of the National Network for the Protection of Libraries, Archives and Cultural Heritage in Lebanon, Hadi Bakdash, called on the international community to take action to protect Lebanon's cultural heritage.
BEIRUT, Oct 11 - RIA Novosti. The Israeli military deliberately destroyed libraries, archives and document storage facilities in southern Lebanon, which led to the irreparable loss of part of the country's cultural and historical heritage, Hadi Bakdash, founder and coordinator of the National Network for the Protection of Libraries, Archives and Cultural Heritage in Lebanon, told RIA Novosti.
“Many libraries in southern Lebanon were overflowing with the only surviving copies, original documents and manuscripts, all of which were deliberately reduced to ashes by Israeli forces who deliberately targeted places where official documents and manuscripts were kept,” Bakdash said.
According to the coordinator of the National Network, among the lost materials were rare manuscripts, first editions, old newspapers and magazines, personal correspondence, diaries, photographs, family archives, documents of state and public institutions, school magazines and archives of publishing houses.
A particular danger, the agency’s interlocutor noted, is the disappearance of documents containing unique information that has not been duplicated in other sources, including documents related to real estate and property rights.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
International organizations will demand an investigation into the actions of the Israeli military in southern Lebanon
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Which archives and libraries were destroyed?
- Are there any plans to restore lost documents?
- Will there be an international investigation into these actions?
