The invasion of Lebanon by the Israeli army in 1982 marked the beginning of the operation “Peace in Galilee”. Photojournalist Yan Morvan is sent on the premises by Sipa for Newsweek. From 1982 to 1985, he recounts the war in Lebanon as he lived it. It tells the story of a torn country, without ever taking sides or favoring one of the actors of this drama, in order to reproduce as faithfully as possible the significant episodes of this major conflict.
In parallel, he gives us his poignant report made with his large-format camera on the “green line”, the no-man’s land that separates East Beirut from West Beirut. “The green line is a border. A front line that separates Beirut into two parts for more than ten years now. The western part where live Muslim majority populations and the eastern part where live those who are predominantly Christian. This break extends from the far away suburb, the village of Karame beyond the airport, point of junction between the Amal Shia militias and the Druze coming from the mountain, to the port of Beirut, theater of the civil war of 1975-76. In total almost fifteen kilometers. In the Christian sector, the green line is practically inhabited only by merchants or soldiers of the Fifth Brigade of the Lebanese Army. On the other hand, in the western sector, the civilian population mingled with the militiamen Amal, Hezbollah and other Druzes of the PSP (Progressive Socialist Party of Walid Jumblatt). For more than a decade, these civilians have been the target of indiscriminate shellings, which on both sides only add to the daily routine of deaths. Peasants attracted to the city during the economic boom of the 60s, they are too poor today to leave their homes dangerously exposed. Craftsmen and penniless workers, shopkeepers living from day to day; they are the hostages of the raging militias. Too late, too poor to think of leaving, they live every day an existence of besieged. For nearly forty-five days, (Yan Morvan) traveled this line of desolation on the west side. From the mountain to the port, street after street, house after house, meeting the actors on this bloody artery and shooting their portrait with a 4 * 5 inches large format camera. ”
These Chronicles of war tell us of the advent of the “party of God” – Hezbollah – and the rise of the Lebanese Shi’ism and religious fundamentalisms, as well as the failure of the United States policy in the Middle East, which foreshadow the current conflicts: the axis USA-Europe-Saudi Arabia against Iran-China-Russia
This book represents one of the first books of photography on this very documented conflict.
Yan Morvan, Lebanon
Chronicles of War 1982-1985
Photosynthesis editions
Price: 69 €
