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Transcript/Script((ISRAEL LEBANON WAR PREPS
HEADLINE: Israelis and Lebanese brace for expected Israeli retaliation
TEASER: People in both countries say they hope there won’t be a full-scale escalation of the conflict, but they are preparing for the worst
PUBLISHED: 7/30/2024 at
BYLINE: Linda Gradstein
DATELINE: Jerusalem
VIDEOGRAPHER: Zev Schwartz, Agencies, Courtesy
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, Tom Turco
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA ORIGINAL, AFP, Israel GPO
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES:
Email edits to lindagradstein@gmail.com ))
((INTRO)) [[Tensions are escalating in Lebanon, where Israel on Tuesday said it attacked Hezbollah targets in seven areas of south Lebanon with airstrikes and artillery fire. As Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem, people in both countries are bracing for a full-scale Israeli response to a Hezbollah rocket attack Sunday that killed 12 Druze children and teenagers.]]
((VIDEO: STREETS OF DOWNTOWN JERUSALEM, VOA))
((NARRATOR))
There is tension, but no signs of panic as many on the streets of Jerusalem brace for an expected Israeli retaliation on Hezbollah after the weekend’s attack that killed 12 Druze children and teenagers while they were playing soccer. The attack has shocked and angered Israelis.
((VIDEO, FUNERALS OF DRUZE CHILDREN))
((Radio Cue: Yehudit Levinson is a retired accountant))
((Yehudit Levinson, Jerusalem Resident))
“I’m very nervous about the situation between Israel and Hezbollah. I’m very nervous about their capabilities of wiping us out, and I don’t feel like the government is protecting us in any way. I don’t think they have the people’s interests at heart.”
((NARRATOR))
((VIDEO: ISRAELI SOLDIERS FIRING AT HEZBOLLAH - AGENCY))
Most Israelis polled said their army should hit back hard at Hezbollah, even if that means that Hezbollah will fire rockets at Israel. Hezbollah is believed to have some 150,000 rockets that can reach all parts of Israel.
((Radio Cue: Sharon Kashi runs a cosmetics business))
((Sharon Kashi, Jerusalem Resident))
“If someone will come to your house and will kill one of your kids, God forbid, what would you do? Would you sit and say, ‘well, if I want to respond then’ … it just doesn’t make sense. There is no question about it. We should attack much stronger.”
((NARRATOR))
While there is no panic, some people say they are stocking up on water and food.
((Radio Cue: Hyla Kompel says she is preparing for the possibility of a war.))
((Hyla Kompel, Jerusalem Resident))
“Last week, a friend from the north was visiting me, and she said, ‘you’ve got to have stuff’ ... she wanted to buy me three six packs of water, and I said, ‘just buy me one because I have no space to put the other ones.’”
((VIDEO: AFP OF CROWDED LEBANESE BEACHES))
((NARRATOR))
Across the border in Lebanon, many foreign airlines have suspended flights. Yet the seashore is still filled with locals and residents of south Lebanon, many saying they hope the border tensions will not lead to a full-scale war.
((PRODUCTION NOTE: NEXT TWO SOUNDBITES ARE FROM REUTERS))
((Radio Cue: Ali Husseini from the south Lebanese town of Tyre says there is fear of an Israeli retaliation, but people are living their lives as normally as they can))
((Ali Husseini, Tyre Resident – MALE - ARABIC - REUTERS))
“There is fear that the Israeli enemy will react, but people are living their lives normally and there is no fear or stress.”
((Radio Cue: Husam, also from Tyre, says people are watching the situation closely and hoping it stays quiet.))
((Husam, Tyre Resident – MALE ARABIC - REUTERS))
“People are afraid, and they are monitoring the situation. I am one of them. We hope the situation stays like this.”
((VIDEO: NETANYAHU AT MAJDAL AL-SHAMS, GPO))
((STILLS OF FALAQ 1 ROCKET, IDF))
((NARRATOR))
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site of the Hezbollah rocket attack that killed the 12 children and teenagers. While Hezbollah continues to say they were not responsible, both the U.S. and Israel say that only Hezbollah has the type of rocket that was used.
Both publicly and privately, U.S. officials have urged Israel to exercise restraint.
Israeli analysts say that while Israel believes it must retaliate, neither Israel nor Hezbollah want the situation to escalate to a full-scale war.
People in both countries are hoping for the best – and bracing for the worst.
((Linda Gradstein, VOA News, Jerusalem))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 30, 2024 16:34 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
