I apologise for the break, I have been setting up in Beirut to cover the Israeli assault from here.
This has been quite a logistic challenge. I am accompanied by Niels Ladefoged, the cinematographer with Wikileaks who was with Julian Assange on his flight to Australia. Readers of this blog know Niels as the cinematographer of Ithaka who was my companion on the month-long tour of Germany I made with that film.
We have needed to get to Beirut and then get safe accommodation, and organise internet access, a car and driver, interpreters, etc. I am lucky to have some very good local introductions to get us started, but obviously do not have the kind of support a media organisation offers.
One thing we have needed to obtain is passes to enter and operate in the evacuated areas of the city. We can without them move freely around much of Beirut including the centre, and film. We have also been able to enter the bombed-out areas and look, but could not stay longer and take pictures or videos there without permission from local committees, which we have been awaiting.
There are two dangers. The first is assassination by the Israelis, who target journalists specifically. The second is that local people are understandably outraged and are suspicious of westerners, with good cause. A cursory check of me first brings the information that I am a former British diplomat, which can bring misunderstanding. That is why permits and protection from local committees is highly recommended to us.
I have sketched out a first article about what I have seen, but really want to get images to accompany it. I am hoping we will solve this today.
It is very expensive to do this trip. I have no financial backing at all other than readers of this blog. Once I get out the first article I shall be launching a specific crowdfund appeal, but meantime if you haven’t subscribed yet, please do so using one of the methods below.
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Writing in Beirut, Lebanon pic.twitter.com/vYX7B7RGsx
— Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) October 29, 2024
We all have to do what we can to stop this genocide. I have helped initiate the genocide case against Israel at the ICJ, and have been lobbying at the UN for Israel’s suspension. But just now, being here reporting the Israeli assault from the resistance side is what I believe I can do best to contribute.
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Thank you Craig. Stay safe if you can.
Credit to you Craig, I am sure you will provide valuable observations and insights from one of Israel’s killing zones.
I fear however you are as vulnerable as a lamb in Beirut. Particularly because there is a third danger in that city very closely intertwined with the first.
Namely, your old mates the British establishment:
https://thecradle.co/articles/double-cross-how-lebanons-military-intelligence-spies-for-london
Here too
https://thecradle.co/articles/secrecy-shrouds-british-military-actions-in-lebanon
We know from their actions over the past year that they are not averse to surveilling and identifying on Israel’s behalf. And that has just been unknown, voiceless Palestinians who are no thorn in the side of the British establishment.
If it’s of any use, I remember reading in Thomas Friedman’s “From Beirut to Jerusalem” many years ago that, when he asked a member of Hezbollah for a permit or pass so that he could move around freely, the man looked at him as if he were crazy, than tore off the corner of a poster (I forget what symbol or picture was on it), and Friedman could get around by waving this.
So, if you can’t get a permit, try the corner of a poster instead.
Good luck!
I salute and admire your courage. But, you are a marked man, and have been so for many years.
I can only hope that you do stay alive and uninjured as we need your rare voice of sanity in this increasingly disintegrating world.
Take care. You’re going down the Robert Fisk route, being at the centre of the storm. Look forward to your reports.
Mr Murray is my hero! Please stay safe.
Perhaps, in an idle moment, you could update your wikipedia [and other] entries? Watch out you don’t give away your geolocation [or set up a false one in the middle of nowhere]. Most of all, try to stay safe.
Wikipedia starts : “Craig John Murray (born 17 October 1958) is a Scottish author, human rights campaigner, journalist, and former diplomat” …. at the moment.
He already has given away his geolocation, Jan (see embedded video*). It will have taken the Israelis less than 5 minutes to work out where he’s staying. If they’d have known he wouldn’t even be doing *basic* operational security on his trip, they probably wouldn’t have bothered sending the drone up.
* There’s a reason that ISIS members blur out the minor undulations in the Syrian desert backdrops to their pledges of allegiance to their latest caliph, before posting the videos on their channels.
…I assume if they want to kill you you die…and you accept that or don´t enter the area.
“I apologise for the break,”
Lol. What break?
CM’s Twitter feed has been exceptional for the last few weeks even as it is throttled by Musks Mean Minions.
It took me hours to catch up and follow up many great threads there.
I recommend all who haven’t yet, to keep track of it – I use a nitter feed as I am allergic to single and 3 lettered entity’s.
https://nitter.poast.org/CraigMurrayOrg
CM is a Great Soul.
Worthy of title ‘Mahatma’
Not just for his sacrifices of riches.
They threaten him daily but he does not Fear.
He is Feared.
I am more scared knowing he is there.
Sending an extra pony on the way today to help his ride as we await,
his despatches from the genocide.
You’ll probably be very aware of this, but…
You – Craig – will hardly be regarded as a “Friend of Israel” by that crazed, bloodthirsty and utterly lawless regime. On account of the fact that you regard Palestinians as human beings, and don’t chortle away while genocide is occurring, and don’t regurgitate their blatant lies with a straight face – all of which is necessary to be a “Friend of Israel”.
As such, you are in great danger there. I’m sure Israel “will investigate” any stray missile or sniper’s bullet which happens to go in your direction, before blaming Hamas, Hezbollah and antisemitism. Israeli death squads, otherwise known as the IDF, will know of your presence, and the only solution to any problem is violence and death as far as they’re concerned.
Be very, very careful about giving away your location. Anyone recording or reporting on Israeli atrocities is a terrorist, after all.
I am impressed by your bravery and genuinely worried for your safety. I can only hope that the Zionists will see the folly of making you a target, but wisdom is not one of their strengths. Reporting from a war zone will give your posts added credence as opposed to the ramblings of armchair critics who try to dismiss them.
You wonderful, wonderful man. Thank you for your example, your courage and compassion, and humanity
couple of obvious tips to CM;
1) don’t sleep in the same place more than once. .The geolocation of any upload is critical; don’t leave it until you are finished for the day.
2) Next, don’t stay filming in any one place for longer than 20 mins, max. Even with a bodyguard and fixer. Thats roughly the time needed for any ill-wisher to formulate a plan. Frank Gardner of the bbc who got shot and paralyzed in Saudi some years ago can testify to that. His film crew took 40 mins to set up for a simple shot. Ridiculous.
3) As others have said, its not just the israelis CM has to think about. There are a large number of private militias who are all itching for action. A large number of shootings in this kind of situation are down to an individual just wanting to big himself up in his own eyes and then in the eyes of his friends.
May be contact French-Arab academic Aurélie Daher, Université Paris Dauphine-PSL
https://fr.linkedin.com/in/aur%C3%A9lie-daher-05944684
https://www.aureliedaher.com/contact-fr