Ali Saad was interviewed in More House, UN Post 2-45, UNIFIL South Lebanon for the Military Archives Oral History Project. Ali Saad’s interview is part of a series of interviews recorded to mark forty years of Irish service in Lebanon with UNIFIL. Ali has worked closely with the Defence Forces in Tibnin village since 1978, he is branch manager of Byblos Bank in Bint Jubayl. He is co-ordinator of the Lebanese Red Cross in South Lebanon and a founder member of Tibnin Orphanage.
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin
Length: 3.32
In this clip Ali Saad speaks about growing up near Irish soldiers in Tibnin, Lebanon. He refers to his generation whom he describes as growing up in 'the atmosphere of UNIFIL'. He illustrates the interaction between Irish troops and the local community by telling a story of a time when...
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin
Length: 3.31
In this clip Ali Saad recalls Irish troops providing 'social patrols' to local farmers at harvest times during dangerous times. He refers to APCs [Armoured Personnel Carriers] and Panhards accompanying farmers with donkeys to the farmers' lands. He refers to Irish soldiers helping to harvest olives to minimise harvesting times.
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin
Length: 1.35
Ali Saad speaks about the impact civil war and subsequent fighting had on Tibnin, explaining that the population of Tibnin is 4,000 while there are 12,000 Lebanese people from Tibnin living in Detroit, Michigan, United States.
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin Beirut
Length: 1.49
Ali Saad speaks about his own university research in 1993 on the subject of the social and economic effect of UNIFIL in South Lebanon. He refers to the fact that he got a scholarship to Trinity College in Dublin in the 1980s but the year before he expected to go...
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin Tyre
Length: 2.19
In this clip Ali Saad speaks about the death of his father, Salim Saad. He discusses the assistance he received from the Lebanese Red Cross which led to his own long term association with this organisation. He refers to the support he received from Irish soldiers, such as Commandant Tony...
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin
Length: 2.14
Ali Saad discusses the Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s which he says initially affected Beirut more than South Lebanon but impacted South Lebanon when people fled to the South to get away from Beirut. He recalls being a child, selling soft drinks and chocolate to Irish soldiers when they...
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin
Length: 2.02
In this clip Ali Saad speaks about the relationship between Ireland and Lebanon and he reflects on the fact that four people from Tibnin were on the Titanic leaving from Ireland in 1912. He explains that the mayor of Tibnin gave a speech at the hundred year commemorations in Ireland...
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin
Length: 3.13
While speaking about the 1982 Lebanon war Ali Saad refers generally to the Irish Battalion at that time. In this clip he speaks about Irish soldiers in Camp Shamrock, Tibnin who had a ship's horn in the camp. When locals heard the horn they would know to take shelter. He...
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin
Length: 1.34
In this clip Ali Saad draws a comparison between Lebanon and Ireland, speaking about Lebanon being occupied and the Irish who might understand this from their history.
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Bint Jubayl
Length: 1.37
In this clip Ali Saad and the interviewers discuss the fact that Ali has a slight Irish accent. Ali recalls an incident while working with the Red Cross when he had reason to ring an Irish officer. The officer did not believe that the person on the telephone was Lebanese.
Ali Saad
Interviewed for MAOHP - 06/03/2018
Location(s): Tibnin
Length: 2.05
In this clip Ali Saad imparts a message for Irish people, saying that the people of South Lebanon are like the Irish and want to live in peace. 'To those good Irish people, I'm speaking about politicians and military and civilians and families. The people of South Lebanon are people...
