LEBANON: Lebanese fishermen finally head out to sea after Israel lifts blockade

Fishermen from the small port town of Tyre in the south of Lebanon took to the sea early on Saturday (September 9, 2006) for the first time in nearly two months after Israel lifted its sea blockade of Lebanon on Friday (September 8) handing control of the Lebanese coastline to an international naval task force. Dozens of fishermen threw their nets out to sea and caught their first batches of fish since the start of Israel's eight-week sea blockade which started on July 12. Most residents of southern Lebanon's coastal towns depend on fishing as their main source of food and income. The blockade lift was welcome news to the hundreds of fishermen who were jobless until Friday morning. "We are so happy after yesterday's good news because it has been two months that we are waiting for this moment. We were born on the sea and we cannot leave the sea and do something else. This is our job," one fisherman Boulous Allawi told Reuters Television as he picked fish from his fishing net in early dawn hours on Friday. "We want God to keep this situation in peace so that we can go and do our job and stop being delayed. We were so happy when they opened the sea," said another fisherman Simon Youssef Assaf. Fish shops owners in Tyre's harbour market started to fill their refrigerators with fresh fish for the first time weeks. Nearby fishermen enjoyed breakfast, grilling their fresh catch on an open fire. Most fishermen planned to stay out at sea for most of Friday morning in an attempt to catch as much fish as possible. Dozens of boats left Tyre's harbour at 3am (midnight GMT) on Friday -- most planned to spend eight hours out at sea. "We say thanks to God because the Lebanese government lifted the blockade. It has been two months and the sea people have been jobless. All the equipment got affected by the sun and the repairs cost us thousands of dollars. What more can I say than this," Mahmoud Tilaal said. The end of the maritime embargo, a day after Israel lifted its air blockade, had been a key Lebanese demand to help speed reconstruction of bridges, homes, roads and factories devastated during a 34-day war between Israel and Hizbollah. Major-General Alain Pellegrini, head of UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon, said the Italian-led naval force was operational and had taken over coastal patrols from Israeli vessels. Many countries have criticised the embargo, which Israel said was aimed at stopping Hizbollah from re-arming, but which Lebanon saw as collective punishment. A UNIFIL spokesman said four Italian ships were currently supporting the Lebanese navy in monitoring Lebanon's territorial waters. France said it will supply two frigates, complete with helicopters, and a transport vessel for the surveillance force. A Greek frigate carrying about 200 sailors left Cyprus for Lebanon on Friday to join the force, a Greek Defence Ministry source said. The Italian, French and Greek vessels are expected to patrol the coast until a German-led naval contingent can take over in line with a Lebanese request to the United Nations.

ITN Source | September 9, 2006

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