Nonsense. Who needs to blow himself or herself up when they have got tanks, bulldozers, army planes and an organised and powerful army ? And before that happens, the first Jewish militias in British ruled palestine were classified as terrorists, and carrying actions of terrorism. Now blowing oneself up or not isn't what matters. Killing innocent civilians is the matter. This, when you're too weak, can only be achieved by blowing oneself up, but when u got an army, no need for that.

Typical of ynet, to just cover the negative aspects of everything. Have u ever thought about the prosperous Lebanese jews, the ones that own Banque Lati in Beirut, the Levant Trading book company, a few soap factories in Saida and a tobbacco company in the north? My parents close friends are Jews, as was a colleague of mine, and his last name was ISRAEL and he still is in that same gym. The jewish cemetary in sodeco is being taken care of by a shiite family appointed by Jews. The Jews of Lebanon emigrated to France and the US, not to Israel because they didnt want to have to deal with ignorant fools like Daisy and such. Most emigrated because of the war and not because of any religious fear. Get it right! So Ynet stop with the victimization reports and you readers especially daisy, try to use ur brain, not your filthy tongues and knock anything down in your path.

Why? Religious groups have been persecuted throughout history, not just Jews. It's crazy that my taxes as an American go to buying weapons for a religious group to 'defend' themselves. I'll do all I can to make that stop, though my calls to the paid-off legislators in this country, beleagured by AIPAC, will most likely be to no avail. A professor friend of mine at a major East Coast university, a Lebanese by birth, confirms that all religions there were living peacefully until the Israelis began their constant harassment, invasions, and disgusting behavior, including the last incursion which cost the lives of over 1000 Lebanese. Not just Lebanon, but many Americans and citizens of other countries who have basic observation skills are becoming very tired of seeing innocent human beings slaughtered by Israelis and the U.S. military. The Arabs, including Muslims, I have met and known, are anything but terroristic. They are hard-working, gentle people who are doing very well here in America.

Look who was protecting him. the (palestenian),,,and look what the jews doing to the palestenians

Moshe brings up some important points. First, the Shia, Sunnis and Jews were once friends. Secondly, the synagogue was protected by Arafat's Fatah. Third, Lebanese Jews did very well in their homeland. Israel is not blameless in creating the need for Jews to flee. What Hizbolla did is unforgiven and what the israelis have done to Lebanon, is equally barabaric. All the people of Lebanon have suffered as a result. I do hope Lebanon's Jews return safely. The reconstruction must include reconstructing the synagogue with Lebanese state funds.

You areobviosuly very ignorant of the history of Israel and the Middle East. Thousands of Lebanese Christians have left their country because of harrassment from the Muslims. Your friend is obvioulsy a Muslim. Most non-Jewish Americans, like myself, supprt Israel because we know the difference between good and evil. The Arabs are definately the evil ones here.

You are definitely a Republican and an ignorant one. You claim that you know more about Israel and Lebanon history than Lebanese. What an arrogance. I am still waiting for WMD that we were promised when we did send our troops to Iraq.

I have never voted for a republican and am extremely anti-bush, but for the first time that I can remember, I agree with them on something...

You claim that your Lebanese professor "confirmed" that all religious groups got along well in Lebanon until the Israelis started "harassing" them. I am sure that many individuals got along,and still do, but that assertion belies the facts. The Lebanese civil war started in 1976, the Israeli invasion, justified or not, was in 1982, and was a result of the fact that the PLO had taken advantage of Lebanon's civil wars to establish a ministate in the south (the sam area that Hezbollah established dominance over now). PLO used the area that they controlled to attack Israel,and the Israeli invasion was a response to that. But Lebanese started slaughtering each other long before the Israelis came. Interstingly enough, in the beginning, in 1982 the IDF was welcomed by the same Shiites who later started Hezbollah, because they were viewed as liberating the mostly shiite and Christian populated southern Lebanon from PLO dominance.

Many people here a justifying the deterioration in the Jewish-Arab relations in Lebanon on the Israeli invasion. This includes condoning the murders, kidnappings, etc that Moshe describes. Would it follow then that after 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973 we should have pillaged the Arab communities in Israel? Let me assure you that for all but very few Israelis the resolute answer to that question is a very loud "NO"! It is very sad that the world choses to ignore that fact and to apply different standards to us and our neighbors

The man they write about above may have been kidnapped because he was Jewish, but all Lebanese of ALL religions have had to deal with this and worse. My uncle was kidnapped, and my mother was almost killed. I know many muslim and christian families who have suffered through similar things. Every religious group in Lebanon was targeted at some point. That is the nature of civil war.

All I know for certain is that Hizbollah tunnelled into Israel and kidnapped 2 Israeli soldiers and killed 8 others. The 2 soldiers have not yet been returned, alive, to their frantic families. For Hizbollah to pretend to be shocked at Israel's retribution, is very lame. Israel has always been known to make retribution for any aggression. The only reason that Hizbollah can claim victory is that the UN called the terms of the cease-fire. And we all know that the UN is anti-semitic. I strongly advise Hizbollah to take care not to further antagonize Israel. I would hate to see the poor Lebonese to be wiped out due to Hizbollah's miscalculation. Just remember...Hizbollah started the war, and Israel would love to end it... their way!!!!

Bush skirted the whole issue. He didn't want to offend the Arabs. The Bush family owns 3 refineries in Saudi. Coming to the aid of Israel, is not part of his agenda. Think about this, why didn't Bush push the sale of cluster bombs to Israel?

this storey has moved me, i cant believe what my fellow citizens coomitted, here in lebanon we say we have 18 religious communities you need all to succeed, u get rid of one, u lose lebanon, we lost one, the jewish community, there maybe 40 jewish lebanese but they dont have a representative, which is sad.. i would like to re-establish the jewish community like back in the 60`s i feel like lebanon has lost a vital organ and never the less they are lebanese first they have every right to be here as much as any body else, when emile lahoud came to power i wrote countless emails to try and get the leadership to restore the synagogue, to only get replys that they will eventually get to it and they are busy with more important projects, the only truthfull response was from honorary mr harrir, i tried to get a permit from the reconstruction ministry that was a nightmare the ministry was shiite lead with syrian backing, it was impossible, maybe now they might be able to reconstruct it. saniora seems like a level head person... anyway i hope this hostility ends in the middle east, the only solution i see is to liquidate the syrian and iran leadership, they will never let the region be free....

It's so sad to read this. One should note a few facts nonetheless: 1- over 1 million Lebanese left Lebanon after 1977, maybe 1.5 mn. 2- Confessional killings and kidnapping were everywhere, back then sadly, it affected everyone in this maddness, not Jews alone. Every life counts, and the sorrow is universal. 3- Most of the Jews that left Lebanon did not go to Israel, they actually immigrated to USA, Canada and Europe. Perhaps they were smart enough not to fall for zionist haven theories. 4- The Lebanese jews are STILL Lebanese citizens, the minute they should to come back. Their property is still theirs, devastated, but please keep in mind that the Jewish Quarter was IN the greeline between East and West Beirut, and that most of the damage to the Synagogue was caused by the IDF bombs.

When Israel and Lebanon get a treaty it will be good. Watch for some surprise byproducts of the upcoming Mediterranean Union conference in France -Assad and Olmert might have something in the works... once peace with Syria, Hizbollah's days are numbered... then peace with Lebanon and it's all good. It would be possible to live in a town half way between Haifa and Beirut and commute in either direction! In a decade or so it may actually be happening... Israelis going to Beirut for a nearby vacation or to learn French, Lebanese coming to Israel to work in tech jobs, etc... We will make an axis of cool that should eventually spill-over into Damascus, Amman, Cairo, etc... don't know how long until Baghdad's back on its feet :(, but we'll get Beirut back.