In Lebanon, remains more than 2000 years old threatened by war | Conflict in the Middle East

“Usually, we say to ourselves that we are going to rebuild everything that was destroyed by the war. But when it comes to an ancient heritage, we know very well that we will never be able to rebuild it. »

This is the great fear that has haunted Nayla De Freige since the start of the open war between Israel and Hezbollah.

I am very very worriedsaid to the president of the Baalbeck International Festival in an interview with -. Its festival is a cultural event famous for its grandiose shows presented every year – except this one – between the Roman temples of Bacchus and Jupiter, classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Since 1956, iconic voices like those of Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Feyrouz have resonated between the columns of these archaeological remains, located in northeastern Lebanon.

These temples, whose construction began in the last century BC, are among the largest ever erected and among the best preserved in the world, estimates theHIM.

Today, they risk being destroyed in a matter of secondsdeplores the Lebanese archaeologist Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly, specialized in the protection of heritage in emergency situations.

In addition to being recognized for its ancient gems, the city of Baalbeck is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. It is therefore regularly shelled by the Israeli army which, a few weeks ago, issued an evacuation order to its approximately 80,000 inhabitants.

The Jewish state says it is targeting military installations belonging to the pro-Iranian Shiite movement, but damage caused by the intensity of the explosions has been noted at several of its historic sites.

The blast of an explosion can cause a stone weighing more than 300 kilos to fallexplains Ms. Farchakh Bajjaly, sitting in a café in Beirut. This is how part of the dome of Douris felllocated about 3 km southwest of Baalbeck, she adds.

There are also vibrations caused by the movement of the ground after a strike which can cause damage both on the surface of a site and in its subsoil.says Ms. Farchakh Bajjaly, whose voice is covered by the hum of a surveillance drone flying over the Lebanese capital at very low altitude.

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To date, two walls juxtaposed with the historic citadel of Baalbeck have been damaged, as has the legendary Palmyra Hotel, built in 1874 and located directly opposite the temples, which has notably hosted big names such as Charles de Gaulle, Lawrence of Arabia or Albert Einstein.

In southern Lebanon, the city of Tire – another thousand-year-old city full of sites classified as world heritage sites – has also been the target of an Israeli evacuation order for weeks.

Stronghold of the Amal movement, an ally of Hezbollah, this Phoenician city, where the color purple is said to have been discovered, is famous for its Roman baths, its necropolis, its triumphal arch and its hippodrome dating from the 2nd century AD.

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A few weeks ago, missiles fell a few hundred meters from these archaeological sites. Ms. Farchakh Bajjaly fears the worst if the war continues.

There are underground archaeological remains in Tyre, which were surely damaged by the strikes. There was certainly destruction.

Faced with the emergency, more than 100 Lebanese deputies – out of a total of 128 in Parliament – ​​have exceptionally put aside their political differences to call on the international community to act in favor of the protection of the country’s heritage sites.

The UNESCO Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict is also due to hold an exceptional meeting on November 18, in Paris, at the request of the Lebanese authorities.

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But more than protective measures, Nayla De Freige, president of the Baalbeck Festival, hopes that Unesco take responsibility […] and will impose strong sanctions against those who destroy Lebanese heritage.

It is UNESCO which is the guardian of the sites classified as world heritage. The agency must do more and act as quickly as possible, it is very important.

She would also like to emphasize that beyond historical monuments, there is all the intangible cultural heritage that must also be protected. I’m talking about memory, history, folklore, traditions, memories… The entire social fabric of Baalbeck is affected by this heritage.

Same reflection from Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly, who counts more than 10,000 national monuments which are also part of the Lebanese heritage, such as old souks, historic religious sites, as well as traditional houses. These monuments, according to her, are much more threatened with destruction than archaeological sites.

This is where collective memories are formed, explains the archaeologist. These places have much more value for the local population because they are part of their identity.

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According to the Lebanese National Information Agency, entire neighborhoods in 37 villages in South Lebanon were completely destroyed since the start of the war, including 40,000 homes.

Impressive images have circulated in recent weeks on social networks showing the dynamiting of entire villages not far from the border with Israel.

A practice which must be condemned by the international community, according to Ms. Farchakh Bajjaly.

In its war against Hezbollah, Israel may not directly attack sites classified as world heritage sites, but what about community sites? The destruction is massive.

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The archeology expert does not expect immediate results from the next UNESCO meeting, but she hopes that preventive measures will still be adopted to protect the heritage.

Better to put protective measures in place than to try to find funding to rebuild after the warestime enfin Mme Farchakh Bajjaly. That would be one way [pour l’Unesco] to demonstrate to the Lebanese that their heritage is respected and that it deserves to be preserved.

Otherwise, why were international conventions written? To whom does it apply, if not to the States?

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