(Beirut, Lebanon) “We use Facebook of course, like Tunisians. We also know that the enemy is watching us closely. Facebook, we have adapted it to our needs,” said Abou Omar, a Palestinian activist, in a meeting with Webdo, in one of the Palestinian camps in the south of the Lebanese capital.
“We do not need the internet to communicate between us. We are piled up by thousands over a few hundred square meters. The word spreads very quickly, by word of mouth.”
From the camps, the Palestinians use Facebook massively, but have derived it, therefore, from its primary usefulness: to share the information.
Webdo came into contact with another activist, wishing to keep anonymity. It is presented as the author of the strategy used by the Palestinians, during the activities of June 5, 2011. A “return to Palestine” march was organized that day.
“The idea was to create several Facebook pages announcing several actions at different points in the southern borders of Lebanon” explained the activist. But really, none of this took place.
“The goal is to deploy enemy armed forces throughout the border. This causes them to loss by millions of dollars”.
The activist added that in financial loss was added the enormous stress to the Israeli soldiers. “They are waiting for us at certain points. Whether we go to other points or not at all, it’s already a success!”.
The Palestinians seem to want to play the war of the nerves with the Israelis. “The Palestinians played the game. In the comments on these real pages but with false message, some spoke of inflatable balloons, gliders and other techniques to cross the border barrier”.
The Palestinians have passed the word between them, in the camps, not to believe in the information spread on Facebook. According to the activist, “social networks are already infiltrated by the enemy to spy and disinform”.
