Intifada, la guerre sans fin, jour aprés jour le męme cauchemard.

Intifada, la guerre continue dans la bande de Gaza, les conditions de vie deviennent de plus en plus dure depuis le Hamas au pouvoir.

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Intifada Endless War - report

Second Intifada, endless nightmare.

Photo report produced in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel.

Intifada meaning uprising. The word used several times in Lebanon but also in Morocco or Irak to describe a rebellion against an oppressive regime or a foreign enemy. It also describes two popular opposition groups against the israeli defense forcesin the occupied territories and in certain zones claimed by the palestinian authority (Gaza strip and West Bank). It’s a main issue in the israeli-palestinian conflict.

The first Intifada, called war of stones, started on December 9, 1987. The second palestinian Intifada, “Al Aqsa” Intifada, began on September 29, 2000, following Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Mosque Esplanade/Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Unrelenting cycle of palestinian attacks and israeli counter attacks.

Intifada was the biggest palestinian challenge to Israel, but efforts to end the conflict had very little results.Armed Fatah palestinian fighters in the Gaza strip. Large demonstrations in the streets of Gaza.Armed palestinian fighters in the Gaza strip. Fatah is a political and military palestinian organization. It was founded in Koweit by Yasser Arafat.Young palestinian militants demonstrating in the streets of Ramallah during intifada. Intifada spreads rapidly on the West Bank, and many demonstrations precede the fights.Limited and violent fighting breaks out  on the borderline of independent palestinian zones, close to the jewish settlements, and army checkpoints.Fighting in the streets of Gaza close to the Netzarim settlement. On the first day, seven palestinians are shot and 200 wounded.Demonstrations in the streets of Gaza close to the Netzarim settlement.  A coffin is held up with the picture of the israeli minister Ehud Barak.Every day more burials. Between the beginning of the Intifada and end August 2002, 2336 persons were killed, of which 1726 palestinians and 610 israelis.A young man sitting next to his brother killed during the fights, now considered a martyr, a “shahid”, who will join 72 virgins in paradise.According to a popular legend, the link that unite a palestinian mother to her martyr son is not interrupted by death.From the West Bank and Gaza,  palestinian fighters from the Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and El Aqsa brigades launch a guerrilla warfare in urban zones.Training of child soldiers in a school belonging to Fatah in the Gaza strip, under strict military supervision.


From the beginning of intifada, until end August 2002, 2336 persons were killed, 1726 palestinians and 610 israelis, putting an end to negotiations.

A mother expressing her sorrow after her son’s burial. The violent repression of palestinians protesting against occupation caused more than 200 palestinian deaths in a month.Palestinian armed fighters in the Gaza strip. Intifada is now an uprising led by a minority, even if it is supported by the majority.Led by armed leading members of the Fatah, children are sent on the front lines to hurl stones, and before cameras in order to stir up international indignation.Child soldiers train in a Fatah school in the Gaza strip.   Watched by palestinian leaders, boys and girls listening to the national anthem line up.Shooting classes in Fatah schools for child soldiers.  One of their drills is to raise up an AK 47 in less than a minute.Young boy in his father’s arms watching and hoping to act like his elders... throwing stones at the israeli soldiers.Young boy and his father during a demonstration in the Gaza strip, holding a palestinian flag and wearing Hamas head-bands.

There are 161.000 men and women in the israeli army and some 425.000 reservists can be called up within 72 hours, i.e. a total of about 600.000 individuals, over 10% of the population.

September 2000 marks the “official” beginning of the second intifada, raising multiple controversy. Fighting in Ramallah on the West Bank on a Friday afternoon.An israeli sniper at a standstill a few meters away from the entrance to a settlement in the Gaza strip.Israeli patrol in the streets of Hebron to protect the 700 settlers living there.


Fatah and Hamas.

Two different organizations :

Fatah is a national liberation movement which appeared in the late 1950’s and in the early 60’s, which has become over the years the main national palestinian force.

Hamas is a movement inspired by the muslim brothers who have a particular interpretation of islam which they actively preach.

Yasser Arafat, born August 24, 1929, in Cairo and deceased  November 11,2004, in Clamart in France, was an activist and a palestinian statesman.Souha Tawil, known in Europe as Souha Arafat, is the widow of Yasser Arafat, president of the palestinian authority.Cheik Ahmed Yassine, born at the end of 1930, was the founder and spiritual leader of  Hamas.

After the withdrawal of the settlers in the Gaza strip in September 2005

Since September 12, 2005, their are no israeli civilians in the Gaza strip. When the Hebrew State evacuated 8500 of its citizens spread out in the 21 colonies, all diplomatic representatives and arab capitals applauded this event.

More than two-thirds of the settlers (68%) agreed would abide by a democratic decision to withdraw and only a very minority (6%) would refuse. Only 2% would resist by all ways and means.

The majority of the settlers (59%) agree to a compensation.

There are three groups.
-Those who accept the compensation proposed by the state but are opposed to resettlement in small prefab dwellings. Some live since 3 months in hotels in Jerusalem awaiting government proposals.
-Those who accept the state compensation and the aids from the Ministry of Housing.
-Those who refuse all government aids and who live spread about Israel in tents and caravans.

Mashil Ker Family

Family composed of 5 boys aged one to eight.. Since three months,this family lives in a hotel, and still has to wait three more months before being allotted a new home, “caravans” (prefab homes rented by the israeli state).
This family comes from the Névé Dékalim settlement in the Gaza strip. Mrs. Mashil Ker is an educator and is fully conscious that this temporary situation will seriously affect the children’s future education; integration difficulties, worry about their future....

This family of former settlers in the Gaza strip live in a hotel since three months, and must patiently wait three more months before being allotted a new dwelling.After the withdrawal from Gaza; theMashil Ker family and their five children wait in a small hotel in Jersusalem.

Cohen family

This family comes from the Névé Dékalim settlement. The father, born in Israel is a former carpenter. His wife is french and they have five children. They live at the hotel since three months now and await patiently, but are very concerned about their future. However, they are hoping to find a community to live with.
They worry about being used by Ariel Sharon’s political agenda.

Cohen family living since three months at the hotel following the withdrawal from the Gaza strip.This family formerly living in the settlement of Névé Dékalim in the Gaza strip, now lives in a hotel awaiting  government aid.This family feels abandoned and used to serve Ariel Sharon’s agenda.

Nissim family

This family of seven children, one to twenty years old, used to live in the Névé Dékalim settlement in the Gaza strip.
The father has an MBA in Economy, his wife devotes herself to the education of her children. They live in this hotel since three months and have no private life.
Their children feel disoriented, they were used to living in the open air and without television. At the next legislative elections, Mr. Nissim has decided either to abstain from voting,or to vote for the exrtreme left (Merets party) as he thinks that this party does not betray its ideology, contrary to Sharon’s government.

In a hotel in Jersusalem, former settlers waiting for the israeli government to consider their case, subsequent to withdrawal from their settlement.

Yehoshoua Kaldei family

French family living in Israel since 1992 in the settlement of Névé Dékalim in the Gaza strip. Formerly a fireman in Nice then farmer exporting kosher and organic products through Europe.
.Yehpshoua Kaldei had training from the israeli army to assure the security of the settlement and fight against terrorism, during the second intifada. This family now lives in a new town called Nitsan, with concrete buildings, sort of barracks, given by the Ministry of Housing.

French family living in Israel since 1992,  formerly in the Névé Dékalim settlement in the Gaza strip.


Notwithstanding, Yehoshoua Kaldei hopes that with his family a new life will begin, after having abandonned everything.

After withdrawal from the Gaza strip, the government  proposed a lodging and 9000 euros to this family of settlers.After withdrawal from the Gaza strip, the government  proposed a lodging and 9000 euros to this family of settlers.After withdrawal from the Gaza strip, the government  proposed a lodging and 9000 euros to this family of settlers.




Fifteen kilometers from Ashkelon over fifty families, totalling 300 persons, live in tents and caravans.
This small village is called “the village of faith”.
Many come from different settlements in the Gaza strip. The majority of these persons have no water nor toilets. Ultra orthodox families are grouped in an open shed. In three months they have already built eight classes, four for girls and four for boys, starting from kindergarten to primary school. These former settlers have refused the government compensation of 9000 euros, as well as the prefab homes. They put their faith in God, and ignore the israeli government.

Family of settlers squatting near the town of Ashkelon, and waiting for a solution by the israeli government.Fifteen kilometers from Ashkelon, more than fifty families live in tents, prefab caravans.This small village is called “the village of faith”.The village of faith, a village in the wilds composed of tents and small caravans, houses former settlers evacuated from the Gaza strip following a political decision of the israeli government.

In Chatila, palestinian families mourn their dead.

Photo report produced in Lebanon

In the south quarter of Beyrouth, families bear in memory the wounds inflicted during many years, and the final blow on september 18, 1982, the Sabra and Chatila camps slaughter.


The massacre of Sabra and Chatila was perpertrated to September 16, 1982, by the christian militia in an area protected by the israeli forces since the” Peace in Galilee Operation.”According to different sources, the number of victims in the Sabra and Chatila camps, vary from 700 to 3500.Palestinian refugee camps exist in Lebanon since the first israeli-arab war in 1949, mainly the two camps of Sabra and Chatila in a west suburb of Beyrouth.From September 16, 1982, horror swept on the palestinian camps of Sabra and Chatila in Beyrouth.. During 40 hours, hundreds of palestinians were killed by the lebanese militia.During more than 40 hours, hundreds of palestinians were killed by armed lebanese phalangist militia  under the  protection of israeli forces.At dusk, on September 16, 1981, a lebanese commando, a lebanese militia allied to the israelis, enters into the two main camps in Beyrouth, Sabra and Chatila.


They hold the photo of their martyr son to express their sorrow (and each pose always draws a tear). 20 years later, memories of Chatila are still alive, and some of the young generations cannot forget a brother or kin killed during this event.

On September 16, two days aftter Béchir Gemayel's assasination, the christian lebanese forces (phalangists) entered the Sabra and Chatila camps.The massacre in the Sabra and Chatila camps was one of the turnpoints in the lebanese war.On September 14, Béchir Gemayel, the maronite leader elected president a month before, is assasinated.   The christian militia, who helped Israel in chasing palestinians, decided to take revenge.In the southern region of Beyrouth, families still have in mind the wounds inflicted over many years, as well as the final blow on september 18, 1982, during the massacre in the Sabra and Chatila camp

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