Anger blossoms in Lebanese field of flowers as Israel deports 400 Palestinians

21 December 1992: Grey rocks and ice are the only features surrounding more than 400 Palestinians deported from Israel, writes Robert Fisk

Palestinian deportees, who made an unsuccessful attempt to return to their homes in the occupied territories, pray outside their tents (AFP via Getty)

It is a shameful sight. Doctors and lawyers, lecturers and engineers, accountants and journalists, all squatting beneath green tents just below the snow line. The wind blasts up the valley and scythes over the broken road beyond Marj Zohour, which in Arabic means “field of flowers”. But grey rocks and ice are the only features surrounding more than 400 Palestinians deported from Israel.

One has a weak heart, two are on crutches. They described being kicked and beaten in the buses on their way to the border. One man was dragged off as he was buying kebab meat from his butcher. For good measure, the butcher was deported too.

Three brothers and two uncles are crouched on the bare hillside. Many of the 17 PhDs and MAs among the Palestinians were educated in Britain. Bassam Jarrar has a degree from the University of Wales, Ahmed Salamin from Durham, Abdul Fattah el-Awaisi a PhD from Exeter.