Solidere Destroys 3 Buildings Surrounding Magen Avraham Synagogue in Wadi Abu Jmil

[Haruun]

When will they stop destroying Lebanon's identity? Beirut is not Dubai, is not a playground for Hariri's cousins from Saudi Arabia, enough is enough! I just read about this issue in L'Orient le Jour and I also found a video. Please understand that our very culture is being destroyed!

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dG2UiR8h6rY&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dG2UiR8h6rY&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

March 19, 2008: Les derniers témoins du patrimoine architectural beyrouthin tombent sous les bulldozers de Solidere
Amine-Jules ISKANDAR, Architecte DPLG

À Wadi Abou Jmil, trois immeubles, pourtant classés, n’ont pas pu résister aux bulldozers de Solidere. Aujourd’hui, à la place des trois bâtiments, joyaux du patrimoine architectural beyrouthin, il ne reste plus qu’un amas de pierres.

Dans une lettre envoyée à L’Orient-Le Jour et que nous reproduisons ci-dessous, Amine-Jules Iskandar, architecte, s’élève contre cette atteinte à la mémoire du Liban :
« Souvenez-vous du massacre de Cana. Durant les jours qui avaient suivi, les journalistes s’étaient presque tous rendus au sud du pays pour se rendre compte de l’ampleur du
désastre.

Au même moment, profitant du choc dans le pays et du fait que toute l’attention était portée sur Cana, la société Solidere avait précipité ses bulldozers sur Wadi Abou Jmil afin de raser une dizaine de bâtiments classés. Samir Kassir et son équipe n’ont pu à l’époque que déplorer la disparition de ces magnifiques témoignages du patrimoine architectural beyrouthin. À leur retour du Liban-Sud, il n’y avait plus rien à faire. Seuls trois édifices accolés à la synagogue avaient échappé au ravage.

Aujourd’hui, alors que les Libanais sont pris par la crise politico-économique, et que la presse est tout entière braquée sur l’effondrement des institutions, les bulldozers ont repris discrètement leur besogne. Les trois derniers anciens immeubles de Wadi sont éventrés puis rasés. Il n’en reste plus qu’un amas de pierres.

Depuis des années pourtant, le promeneur pouvait voir bien en évidence, sur la façade de chacun d’eux, un écriteau signé Solidere et menaçant d’arrestation quiconque toucherait à un seul élément de ces édifices classés. Aujourd’hui, il vous est surtout interdit de vous aventurer dans le coin avec un appareil photo. Cela explique la mauvaise résolution des photos prises avec un téléphone portable.

Nous assistons, encore une fois impuissants, à la disparition de notre patrimoine architectural, culturel et identitaire. Ces édifices représentaient le dernier témoignage d’une époque qui fut l’âge d’or de la communauté israélite beyrouthine. »

March 19, 2008: The last vestiges of architectural heritage beyrouthin fall under the bulldozers of Solidere
Amine-Jules ISKANDAR, Architecte DPLG

At Wadi Abu Jmil, three buildings, however classified, could not resist the bulldozers of Solidere. Today, instead of the three buildings, jewels of the architectural heritage beyrouthin, there is now a heap of stones.

In a letter to L’Orient-Le Jour, and that we reprint below, Jules-Amine Iskandar, an architect, objected to this attack on the memory of Lebanon:
“Remember the Qana massacre. During the days that followed, journalists had visited almost all south of the country to realize the magnitude of
Disaster.

At the same time, enjoying the shock in the country and the fact that all the attention was focused on Qana, the company Solidere had precipitated its bulldozers at Wadi Abu Jmil to shave a dozen buildings. Samir Kassir and his team were unable at the time that lament the loss of these evocative of the architectural heritage beyrouthin. Upon returning from southern Lebanon, there was nothing left to do. Only three buildings in multiples to the synagogue had escaped the ravages.

Today, as the Lebanese are taken by the politico-economic crisis, and that the press is entirely focused on the collapse of institutions, the bulldozers have quietly resumed their work. The last three older buildings are ruptured Wadi then razed. Still, it is more than a heap of stones.

For years, however, the walker could see clearly visible on the front of each of them, a notice signed Solidere and threatening to arrest anyone would affect only one element of these buildings classified. Today, it is especially forbidden to venturing into the corner with a camera. This explains the bad resolution photos taken with a mobile phone.

We are witnessing, once again powerless, the disappearance of our architectural heritage, culture and identity. These buildings represented the last testimony of an era, which was the golden age of the Jewish community beyrouthine. “

[Bejin]

where are the israeli warplanes? of curse i am jocking. The real question is: until when people will agree to live in a farm and not under the state of law who protects its citizens, the communities and the cultural heritage.

[Dark Angel]

i dont buy that no cameras were allowed on the site and that authorities prevented any coverage, this is a highly improbable piece of news you've got there, at least as far as this point is concerned.

[Haruun]

Originally Posted by Dark Angel

i dont buy that no cameras were allowed on the site and that authorities prevented any coverage, this is a highly improbable piece of news you've got there, at least as far as this point is concerned.

Why don't you try to go there with a visible camera and you can report back to us. Fact is Solidere has placed security guards in that neighborhood for a very very long time. I once tried to take pictures and a man came and took my camera. So I absolutely agree this is an accurate description the producer of that video described.

Solidere and Hariri are turning Lebanon into a Gulf Emirate

[Dark Angel]

Originally Posted by Haruun

Why don't you try to go there with a visible camera and you can report back to us. Fact is Solidere has placed security guards in that neighborhood for a very very long time. I once tried to take pictures and a man came and took my camera. So I absolutely agree this is an accurate description the producer of that video described.

Solidere and Hariri are turning Lebanon into a Gulf Emirate

i think you were robbed..

to be honnest with you i am not very familiar with wedi abu-jmil, but this no cameras policy is not applicable in Lebanon, almost everybody has degital cams on cell phones, so it kinda makes me question this part of the story.

[Haruun]

Dark Angel, the no camera policy works in a lot of places. We can play a game if people are interested. Go to the Synagogue in Wadi Abu Jmil, and considering what was reported and my own personal experience, security guards will come after you. I'm not sure what more I can tell you. Maybe we should email whoever created that video and have them explain to us.

[UNITED_LEBANON]

I am a staunch hater of all things Israeli, but I have to speak out and say this destruction is just not on.

[Hye4Lebanon]

Did they destroy the Synagogue?

[GeaGea SkyWalkeR]

Good riddence, Them things are an eyesore. Let me ask yous a question. If it was not solidre that made thoese horrifyig structures of rotten cement collapse would you still be crying about it, I bet not

[just_lebanese_80]

Originally Posted by UNITED_LEBANON

I am a staunch hater of all things Israeli, but I have to speak out and say this destruction is just not on.

and what does israel have to do with this?