Israel seems to be heading towards all out war with Lebanon, Syria and even perhaps Iran after Shia-backed Hezbollah militants kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed seven others in a cross-border raid. This occurs on top of the kidnapping by Palestinians of Corporal Gilad Shalit by Hamas-alligned militants last month. Overnight Israel launched further air attacks both on Gaza (where they destroyed the Palestinian Foreign Ministry) and, along a second line of attack against Lebanon. In recent hours Israel has cut off air traffic into Beirut by a rocket attack on runways - it seems to have blockaded Lebanon. The conflict is becoming more serious by the hour.
Hezbollah is a state-sponsored terrorist group. Despite its cowardly denials, the main sponsor of this terrorism is Lebanon with auxiliary support provided by Syria and Iran. The deterrence principle discussed recently on this blog suggests that the threat of an overwhelming retaliation against these countries should have been enough to deter their aggression. It hasn’t worked.
Iran, Syria and Lebanon, as sworn enemies of the Jewish state, seek its destruction. Israel has a legitimate right to deny these forces the opportunity to wipe it out and to defend itself against jihadist terrorism. It is now under active attack on each of its three major land borders and Israel clearly sees current events as part of a regional conflict that goes beyond the kidnapping of 3 soldiers.
The deaths, injuries and property damage being suffered by the Palestinians are something that everyone can empathise with. Many of those killed or injured are innocent of terrorist involvement. But they (or their parents) did vote for Hamas – even when first elected the Israelis were concerned about its connections to terrorism.
I watched a biased TV report last night which emphasised the evils Israel is inflicting on innocent Palestinians. Innocents are indeed suffering but the reason for the suffering is the militant Hamas regime which launches missile attacks on Israel, kills its citizens and then runs and hides among its women and children and effectively turns its own citizens into hostages. When Israel responds to the outrages launched Hamas hysterics cry 'atrocity' in unison. Israel the ‘neighborhood bully’, being picked on by its neighbours on all sides and daring to assert its claim to be allowed to continue to exist.
Should be ashamed of itself? No, not at all. The only issue is whether the current strong response policy will work.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
8 comments:
Oh Harry,
I think you should stick with economics; I'm not sure your middle eastern political knowledge is up to this one.
Patrick, A put down with no point. What is your point?
Israel is perhaps the only government that believes the Lebonese government can control Hezbollah!
I agree with Harry Patrick what is your point?
well said, harry.
Here's one commentator who has a lot more sense than a 100 of these media writers
http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/bully.html
Well, the neighborhood bully, he's just one man,
His enemies say he's on their land.
They got him outnumbered about a million to one,
He got no place to escape to, no place to run.
He's the neighborhood bully.
The neighborhood bully just lives to survive,
He's criticized and condemned for being alive.
He's not supposed to fight back, he's supposed to have thick skin,
He's supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in.
He's the neighborhood bully.
The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land,
He's wandered the earth an exiled man.
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn,
He's always on trial for just being born.
He's the neighborhood bully.
Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized,
Old women condemned him, said he should apologize.
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad.
The bombs were meant for him.
He was supposed to feel bad.
He's the neighborhood bully.
if Israel actually believes that Lebanon is responsible for Hezbollah then an act of war was created however no-one believes his nonsense.
Syria and Iran are responsible for this group thus Israel's actions are not just stupid but are murdering people needlessly.
You know both sides plead the case when they murder in this area they are only responding to actions.
Tell that to the victims families
Homer. There are 35 members of Lebanon's parliament from Hezbollah. The Lebanese are now mimicking the Palestinian line - its not our fault, chase the villains not us - innocents are being harmed. They are being harmed and it is terrible but again it is an extremely capable terrorist organisation using a civilian population (largely sympathetic to the terrorists, many vote for them) as hostage.
If the Lebanese government are separate from Hezbollah why not ask them to return the two Israeli soldiers now without any nonsense about 'prisoner exchanges'?
You are missing the point Harry.
The government can scarcely be held responsible for Hezbollah.
Syria and Iran are in a far stronger position to 'influence' Hezbollah than the Lebanese Government.
I also fail to see how destroying important infrastructure achieves anything.
A Clayton's invasion.
I forgot to add they were in a minority position after the last election.
Post a Comment