The battle escalates. Syria and Iran are threatened by Israel. The international community does nothing as always. Is there a strategy somewhere?
The Military Situation: Escalation Beyond Lebanon…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Hanging On The Edge Of A Cliff: Update On The Mideast - Comments Page 3
Article comments
76 - abundant
Not to mention, Gaza City’s Al Shifa Hospital, Dr. Juma Al Saqqa confirmed reports that Israeli bombs are spraying shrapnel which enters the peoples bodies and burns from the inside out, distorting the limbs to the point of no return. The shrapnel, said to be undetectable to x-ray,spark once inside the body, but not chemically.They seem to be radioactive. The doctor spoke on Thursday, giving the death count at 85 Palestinians in the Strip since the latest Israeli attack began. Among the dead are 34 children under the age of 13. And as of Thursday afternoon, 300 Palestinians are injured.
While the premeditated assault on Gaza continues, Israel still holds nearly 10,000 abducted Palestinians, including many members of the Palestinian government.
Hezbollah attacked an Israeli military target, killing three soldiers. Four more soldiers died after an Israeli tank ran over a mine in southern Lebanon. In response, Israel bombed civilian infrastructure and Beirut’s Rafik Al-Hariri International Airport. July is Lebanon’s busiest tourist month. Bombing all three runways of Beirut’s airport and its fuel tanks is a direct attack on the economic welfare of the Lebanese society.
Since the capture of the two Israeli prisoners, Israel and America have pointed the finger of blame at Syria and Iran for supporting Hezbollah. Yet, it’s disingenuous to suggest that Syria and Iran are pulling the strings of Hezbollah. The actions of Syria and Iran are similar to Americans financially supporting Israel"both have interests in common, which justifies the financial support. It is not surprising that Syria and Iran"who out of favor with the Israel and the West"would be willing to fund movements that are trying to free their countries from occupation or defend their countries from Israel, the regional pariah state. It should be noted that Israel has not attributed blame to the Lebanese government for logistically helping Hezbollah, although, Israel still holds the Lebanese government “responsible.”
Those that stayed silent during the atrocities inflicted upon Gaza have voiced a little more concern in the assault on Lebanon. The European Union (EU) stated, “The European Union is greatly concerned about the disproportionate use of force by Israel in Lebanon in response to attacks by Hezbollah on Israel.” The EU continued, “The presidency deplores the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The imposition of an air and sea blockade on Lebanon cannot be justified.” It is also not in the interest of the U.S. government or the international community to see the collapse of the Lebanese government, as U.S. President George Bush noted on July 13. The international community can stomach the slow ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, but they cannot stomach a regional war in the Middle East. Furthermore, regional instability has led crude oil to surge to 78 dollars a barrel"many analysts see 100 dollars a barrel in the not so distant future if regional instability continues. The outrage of U.S. consumers may help Bush rethink the blank cheque he has given Israel “to defend itself.” While Condoleezza Rice urged Israel to “exercise restraint,” these hollow suggestions haven’t hindered Israel’s use of brute force.
77 - sr
Abundant. The international commmmmmmmunity of course can stand the so called ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. Hell, they have practice. They had the stomach with fingers up their ass knowing full well what the frecking Nazis were doing to the Jews. The European Union is still and always will be despots. Call it what you will, internationally coumunity, European, and a coumunity of assholes. They are what they are. G-OD BLESS ISRAEL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. sr
78 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Abundant,
I'll make this short and sweet.
During Passover, there was a terror attack on a restaurant in Tel Aviv and several people were killed.
I didn't see you around then to condemn the murder of innocent people. If you want to play the moralist, you have to apply the morals on both sides. A terrorist is nothing more than a savage animal who commits murder.
Now let's give Hamas the credit they deserve. I realize that in the end we will need to kill them all, but they deserve some credit, nevetheless. In the recently made movie, King Arthur, the Saxon chief who wants to conquer Britain, upon meeting Arturius (Arthur) says, "at last someone worth killing." That's how I feel about Hamas. Finally, someone worth killing.
Their attack on a tank and capture of a soldier was an act of war, not an act of terror. Israel attempted to use this act of war as a means to bring down Hamas, and were totally surprised when the other side of the trap sprang shut on them in the north
HizbAllah also engaged in an act of war, not an act of terror. We are at war and there are legitimate military targets inside of hopitals and all sorts of other civilian facilities in Gaza and lebanon. This is purposeful, so that people like you will abundantly complain and whine.
For your sake, pick a different e-mail moniker. I'm having too much fun tearing apart "abundant."
79 - Alix
Why is it that when terrorists attack and kill, liberals and Democrats blame the United States and Bush. When is this world going to realize that these people just want to kill everybody but themselves.
80 - gonzo marx
why is it that some insidious troglodytes feel the need to come out whenever they can and try and push the Big Lie that half the country "hates America" whenever they can, merely because some disagree with administration policies?
i'm pretty certain all over BC, that the concensus among the american Writers here is that Hizb'allah and Hamas are clearly to blame for the current escalation of Violence in the region
so, jump in with something to add, or get written off as a shill with the talking points and an AM radio agenda , but not much else
yor mileage may vary
Excelsior?
81 - abundant
Sr,
Haven't we learned anything from the past? Do you think what the Nazis did to the Jews was alright? Well, according to your logic its fine. According to your logic, God bless the Nazis for killing the Jews.
The Jews were human beings weren't they? Did the Jews deserved what happened to them? Of course not! Did anyone listen? No one did. Aren't the Palestinian people human beings? Isn't this a chance for the international community to stop something like that from happening again?
Ruvy,
Of course their attack on a tank and capture of a solider is an act of war. I mean, Israel has never attacked or captured anyone. Because if they did, well that must mean its an act of war. Oh, yes, what about those 10,000 Palestinians. Nevermind about them, they're terrorists anyway. Yes, all of them even the woman and children. Yes, the babies aswell. Yes they're all terrorists and must be stopped in order to save the world from a far worse fate.
Ah, yes the military targets! Yes, the houses of the people, hospitals, schools, airports, yes they're all military targets and places of terrorism and must be destroyed.
Israel uses chemical weapons. Let's see what happens if Palestine uses chemical weapons. The international community would be in uproar.
Israel holds nearly 10,000 abducted Palestinians, including many members of the Palestinian government. Let's see what happens if Palestine captures 10,000 Israelis. The international community would be in uproar.
82 - Nancy
IMO, if in order to survive you have to "stoop" to the low tactics of the one(s) persecuting you, so be it. To take the high road which gives them the advantage is not only idiocy but gullibility. I'm just surprised Israel hasn't decided to kick ass totally before this. If it means wiping out 13 million little arabs who will grow up to be 13 million big Hamas/Hezbollah fighters, & who will not hesitate to kill them by any means possible, so be it.
83 - sr
Abundant#81. Did you read my comment #77 or is this just your wishful interpretation? Ruvy#78 said it best. Need not to ad more. Well said Ruvy.
84 - gazelle
If I were an israeli, I would wishfully be sane and not want more generations and organizations of future enemies.
hezbollah or hamas are not the distant and mysterious alqaeda. they live in the hearts of the billion muslim neighbors, admired by christians and sane jews and others.
israel is on a suicide attack.
simply.
best
85 - gazelle
SLA means sabra and shatilla massacres. beware.
best
86 - gazelle
will someone take note of racist comments such as #34 this is extremely offensive to large group as per BC policy.
best
87 - gazelle
#22 Nancy
thanks for yout brilliant ideas such as #22. they are offensive but arguable.
you would make it up the ladder as prison guard at Abu Graib real fast.
hell you might even become secretary of defence!
I hope you are not suggesting the arab-muslim version of "kill all the jews" as was done in germany. that was done by germans, but here you are suggesting that the victims in that case become the perpetrators.
while you watch.
best
88 - Victor Plenty
I hope comment #34 stays unchanged. Let everyone know just what kind of person that commenter is, so nobody ever again gets suckered into thinking of him as a rational person worth debating.
89 - sr
Victor Plenty#88. I also want to see comment #34 unchanged. Not for your rational Victor. Arch speaks sr language. Bravo Arch. Im now in your corner thanks to Victory at Sea. Arch your stealing from me. Camel frecking islamic musslimes down for a dirtnap. I also speak Nuke. The three Musketeers said it best. ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ISREAL. VIVA LA ISRAEL AND NUKE THE UNBORN GAY CAMELS. sr
90 - gazelle
#89
to remind you that the most helpless of humans in the dirt in the death camps were referred to as "musselmann" as if in muslim prayer !
best
91 - mschannon
Gazelle, [Edited]
hezbollah or hamas are not the distant and mysterious alqaeda. they live in the hearts of the billion muslim neighbors, admired by christians and sane jews and others.
Even the moderate Arabs are criticizing the Hez & Ham act. The UN ordered the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah because they're a terrorist organization. Hamas trains innocent young Arab boys and girls to strap bombs around themselves and then go kill innocent Israeli boys and girls. And when they do it, half the looney Arabs in Gaza dance in the street shooting off guns.
What world are you living in? You admire them? Quick...get help. [Edited]
In Medication Veritas
92 - Christopher Rose
Mark, let's try and stick to the subject and leave out the personal remarks in the interest of collective sanity.
Furthermore, as I understand it there is a military wing and a political wing to both Hamas and Hezbollah, just as there was with the IRA in Britain. Tarring them all with the same fat brush of moral outrage is no more helpful to the situation than any other type of generic namecalling and should not be encouraged...
93 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
OK Guys,
Let's get something straight. Whoever our enemies are, they are not typing notes on this board. So let's all try some civility. Whatever our own opinions are, we can all keep civil tongues in our heads. I try hard, and remember, I have friends in the northern towns of this country. My son's best friend has most of his family in Shlomi, a town hit recently by HizbAllah rockets.
If I can try to keep a civil tongue in my head (admittedly I do not always succeed), certainly you all can.
So back up, all of you take a deep breath and remember that while there is plenty to scream about, and plenty reason to get boiling mad, here we can coexist in peace.
"hezbollah or hamas are not the distant and mysterious alqaeda. they live in the hearts of the billion muslim neighbors, admired by christians and sane jews and others."
Gazelle,
HizbAllah are the Shiite puppets of Iran and Hamas has its roots in the Moslem Brotherhood - an offsoot of the Wahhabi from almost a century ago. What little admiration I have for Hamas is that they are honest. They are very up-front about exterminating the State of Israel and the Jewish people here. They are honest enemies. Any Jew who admires either Hamas or HizAllah for any other reason is a blithering idiot. I won't comment about Christians.
If indeed these two organizations have wormed their way into the hearts of a billion Moslems, we have a very painful and bloody road to hoe before there will be peace here. I say this with a heavy heart, full of regret.
94 - mschannon
My apologies to all. I didn't think the remarks were that bad--not compliments, but nasty with a bit of wit? Maybe?
Would you believe they were said out of a deep concern for the poster? No? Shit (I can say shit, right?)
However, I've learned my lesson and henceforth will be a Pilgrim of modest remarks and gentle rebukes.
So...Christopher, the political and military wings of Hamas and Hezbollah are about as distinct as were the political and military wings of the IRA initially. (See Atlantic Monthly, April 2006, cover story--it'll blow your mind about how the Brits beat the IRA through infiltration and forced them to be "political."
Hamas and Hezbollah, from whatever wing, are dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
They prove the idiocy of Bush's spread democracy policy in that some countries are simply not ready for it. (Frankly, if I were living in Gaza and had to choose between the PLO & Hamas, I'd probably choose Hamas. So much for democratic choice. Which thug do you want destroying you.
That said, I'm in complete agreement with Ruvy about these two puppet groups of Syria and Iran. They will never agree to allow Israel to exist and Israel has the moral and ethical right--in fact responsibility--to wipe them off the face of the map. Certainly, the rest of the Lebanese would be thrilled to see Hezbollah totally destroyed. And, for the first time ever, the Arab League has criticized some of their own.
In Valium Veritas
95 - Christopher Rose
I'm not sure if you understood me, Mark. I'm in favour of Israel defending itself and don't think there would be much opposition at all if it simply attacked the military wings of both Hamas and Hezbollah. I can not support the deliberate attacks by a professional army on a helpless and trapped civilian population.
96 - Justin Berry
Reminds me of the time I was stung by a wasp. I was only going to retaliate against that wasp but the coward returned to his nest and hid behind his innocent civilian wasps who hid and supported it. I asked them to turn him over but they replied that the stinging was in response to my zionist invasion (I suspect they were referring to the time I killed a Yellowjacket who stung my child). In any event they refused to recognize my right to exist on my own property. Therefore, I flexed the massive muscle in my finger on the can and they were either killed or fled to Iran or Syria. They will be back,I just have to be ready.
97 - mschannon
Christopher, with all due respect, your approach is naive. Haven't you read how Hamas will take over the home of someone in Gaza and use it to launch missiles, even when the people there plead with them not to. Both Hamas and Hezbollah hide behind the civilians making it impossible to target just the terrorists.
But if you're going to criticize Israel, I'm sure you would have criticized the U.S. and the allies in WWII for targeting civilian cities, such as Dresden, with no military value. And if you've ever read what fire bombing can do, you'd know it's as close to a weapon of mass destruction as you can find.
The fire bombing of Tokyo killed more people than both a-bombs dropped combined.
So, sure, if Israel could just take out the terrorists without harming civilians, I'd be all with you, but the terrorists make that impossible. Let the Arabs blame their terrorists for that--not Israel.
In Decaf Veritas
98 - gazelle
ms:
if you can turn militancy into into civil politics i'd call you successful, israel.
because in this case the political back cannot be broken. they have already been pushed below normal standards for decades - the cause of militancy.
where's the outlet of aspirations ?
and if that means mutual suicide of future generations then this is as tragic as can be.
to repeat: if israel can turn its rivals' miltancy into civil politics, i'd be in awe of israel.
best
99 - gazelle
ruvy, i share your regret deeply. best g
100 - mschannon
Gazelle, I've written an abbreviated history of the Middle East so many times on BC, I'm sick of it. But you do need more historical background. From 1947-67, Jordan controlled what's called "The West Bank" and Egypt controlled Gaza. They intentionally kept the people there in camps, refused to allow them to build a nation or even an infrastructure.
Their goal was to fan the flames of hatred at Israel and Jews. Jordan was actually Palestine, since the majority of the people there were, perhaps are, Palestinians, but when the English and French created--and I literally mean created--the countries of the MidEast, they gave Jordan to the Hashemite thugs for their help in WWI. Same with the Sauds in what became Saudi Arabia.
The PLO, besides being terrorists were also some of the most corrupt people on earth. The billions that poured into those areas wound up in their pockets. The Arabs have treated the Palestinians like pawns or worse for generations.
And Israel is supposed to clean up this mess? They withdraw from Gaza, the Palestinians elect a terrorist group to run it, and immediately missiles are launched into Israel. Hamas and Hezbollah are the stooges of Iran and Syria.
You do know that the Palestinian Covenant still contains language calling for the destruction of Israel, don't you?
And Israel is supposed to fix that? Every time Israel has made overtures, it's been met with lies, deceptions, and, eventually, bloodshed.
I do feel sorry for the people in Gaza and the so-called West Bank, and Lebanon who are victims, but point the finger at the cause of their problems--the Arab & Persian thugs running the terrorist groups and terrorist nations. Even the Arab League criticized their own for starting this latest mess--and that's unheard of.
Enough is enough. Arabs only understand power. When they see that Israel will destroy them all before she allows herself to be destroyed, maybe then they'll back down and agree to let Israel exist.
Should Israel have been created in the middle of a bunch of hostile Arabs who a couple of generations ago were maurading nomads with virtually no culture whatsoever? Probably not. But England and France shouldn't have created such illogical, stupid borders (one of the reasons why trying to create democracy in Iraq is such a joke.)
But that's history. Israel is there. When the Arabs learn to face that reality, there may be peace. Until then, there will only be bloodshed.
So while you weep for the victims, at least understand a little about what caused them to be victims. It wasn't Israel.
101 - troll
not bad Mark - one exception to your history...the Hashemite 'invasion' of what became Transjordan went unopposed because the Hashemites (in search of a new home after being 86ed from Mecca) were threatening to continue to their march on up to Damascus - easier to give up Amman and the east bank of the River
troll
102 - Christopher Rose
Mark, re your #97, please don't follow Mr Nalle into the world of fantasy reality by making crap up. My views on Israel attacking civilians in Lebanon or Gaza have nothing to do with my views on the carpet bombing of Germany during WW2.
As the weapons of Hamas and Hezbollah have a limited range, it would be quite easy for Israel to state anything wthin that area is a potential target and people who moved away would be safe.
On the other hand, destroying roads and bridges so people can not get out of a war zone is just cruel. I would contend therefore that you are the one being naive on this issue, particularly because, as a Jew, you have a vested interest in this.
It would also be helpful if you would refrain from referring to the Arabs as though they were practicing ant-like groupthink. As I'm sure the more rational part of your mind understands, there are differing opinions within every population, unless, as in one of the many military dictatorships we see around the world, peole are being compelled. It's just not human nature to thuink with a hive mind and it is offensive to treat them so.
If I said all Jews are ********** (insert adjective of choice) I would quite rightly be accused of either stereotyping or racism. You are not helping the cause of sanity and porogress by such indiscriminate use of language. In my opinion.
The true reality here is that the USA and Israel have, and always have had, the ability to make all the political problems in the area go away but for over 40 years now have declined to do so.
103 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Chris, I do not agree with Mark on everything here, but for the most part, he has it right.
Arabs in this part of the world do not have a hive like mentality at all. But they tend to understand action and not care too much about messages or hints. I see this reflected as well in the culture of Jews who have come from Arab countries. You can talk all day, and they may scream or answer you or not - but until you actually do something, you have not impressed them. That is experience talking, not some journey into phantasms.
As to the "limited range" of the weapons the Hamas and HizbAllah actually have, I suggest you check out my Thursday summary of events here at my own article. There is a very interesting link to a map...
104 - mschannon
Christopher, you're fast with the insults but not as specific on the details. What am I making up. That Hamas and Hezbollah hide behind civilians? Read a newspaper. Telling people to move away and they'll be safe? Where in Gaza should these people move. They're as much victims as the Israelis. Hamas operates where it wants.
In fact, the Israeli army has been telling people to evacuate, but when your enemy moves constantly, it's a little hard to target them.
and where in the post you mention do I lump all Arabs together. Even in #100, where I say Arabs only understand power, the implied statement is that Arab leaders...I apologize for not make that clearer. And if you don't like my statement that a few generations ago, Arabs were nomadic people with virtually no culture...again, I should have been more clear. I should have said "most."
There's nothing in what I said that can't be found in any history book.
In Decaf Veritas
105 - gazelle
ms
#100
you fail to say how those people got into the "camps" in the first place. isnt that what the whole fuss is about ?
best
106 - mschannon
Gazelle, Ruvy is probably better than I at answering your question, but I'll try (and try to be careful about my claims.) Certainly, the Israelis drove some of the Palestinians out of the area. But there were also a lot of Arab leaders (I can't be more specific because I don't recall) who urged Palestinians to leave saying they'd soon destroy Israel, and they'd get their land back.
Why they weren't assimilated into other Arab countries but put in camps I'll leave to someone else. But, once there, it was primarily Jordan and Egypt that kept them there and prevented them from building homes, an infrastructure, and a country. From '48-'67, they had the chance to build a country, and it wasn't Israel that stopped them.
Since then...the people in the camps were robbed blind by the PLO and others. Worse, they were brainwashed--and I use the word intentionally--into believing that Israel was the source of all their problems.
On the other hand, look at the conditions of Arabs living in Israel. They're not granted full citizenship (is that right Ruvy?) but they live a helluva lot better than those in Gaza and the so-called "West Bank."
Part of the problem for Israel is a fear of the state evolving to where Jews are no longer a majority. As an agnostic, I still have a deep appreciation for those who believe that that land was given to them by God to build a Jewish state.
We just watched Munich last night, and the discussion between the Israeli and the Palestinian in the stairwell was very powerful. The whole concept of "home" is hard to deny.
What's been done to the people in the territories is a crime. I've talked with Palestinians and we've managed to get past our emotions to have good discussions, and I've come away understanding and empathetic.
When I lose my temper is when people blame Israel exclusively for all the problems--ignoring what the rest of the Arab world has--and hasn't done--to ameliorate conditions in the territories.
So...I leave more detailed explanations to others.
107 - gazelle
MS: thanks for replying. the real problem needs solution. g
108 - mschannon
Gazelle, the real problem is that no one can figure out what a goddamn solution would look like. That's what's so frustrating. Everyone's suffering, the world leaders are knitting, bloggers are wailing, and no one has a clue.
109 - abundant
The Real Enemy
110 - Dave Nalle
No, abundant, the real enemy is you.
Dave
111 - Mark Schannon
Abundant, Dave's right. Your one-sided, factually inaccurate, biased point of view makes it clear that you're the enemy. But at least you're willing to identify yourself as such.
In Decaf Veritas
112 - abundant
What is one to do when he seed his family being killed around him, his home being destroyed, his livelyhood being seized, and witnessing the death of thousands of his fellow brethren?
What is one to do when the perpetrators of said death and occupation crusade in the name of self defence.
What is one to do when the entire international community trns a blind eye.
What is one to do when the most powerful country on earth tells the perpetrators not to cease fire?
USA, America, you have just galvanised your worst terrorist nightmare.
God help you when these "ones" realise they have nothing to lose and start blowing up your cities in a desperate bid for revenge and justice.
113 - abundant
OK, is it just me or has no-one else realised that if a group of terrorists are attacking Israel from Lebanon, then the best thing to do isn't to destroy all civilian buildings/infastructure in that country? Maybe talk with the Lebanese government to root out the terrorists.
Its as though Israel are destroying any development the country has (water, electricity, roads) to maximise the de-industrialisation of Lebanon. Make it so poor and undeveloped that the country is no longer a threat to them.
If they were really serious about getting rid of Hezbollah from the south, Israel should have had talks with the lebanese government and conducted joint operations to get rid of them. It would have been more productive than ripping a country apart. I think the Israelis wont be happy untill they have leveled the entire country.
Israel's 1982-2000 occupation
On June 3, 1982, the Israeli ambassador in London was killed by an assassin connected to the extreme anti-PLO Palestinian group headed by Abu Nidal, who had also ordered the killing of numerous PLO leaders. Three days later, Israel used the ambassador's assassination as a pretext to launch another full-scale invasion of Lebanon. The death toll in the following three months was estimated at 19,085, with 30,000 wounded.
Yet earlier, in July 1981, the PLO had declared a ceasefire in cross-border raids and stuck to it. This absence of cross-border attacks was worrying Israel, as this was enhancing the PLO's international diplomatic position. Israel was losing its ability to paint the PLO as a group of terrorists.
After three months of heroic resistance, the PLO's condition for leaving Lebanon was that Palestinian non-combatants in the refugee camps be assured of safety. The US agreed to this, and a multi-national force, consisting of US, French and Italian troops, was authorised to oversee the evacuation of the PLO leadership and guerrilla units. The PLO withdrew from Lebanon in August 1982.
The Arab countries and the PLO then jointly accepted a peace plan calling for Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967 (the West Bank and Gaza) and the formation of an independent Palestinian state in these territories with its capital in East Jerusalem, and guarantees for "peace among all states in the region".
Israel and the US rejected this. On September 3, Israeli forces advanced towards the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in west Beirut, clearing minefields that had been laid to protect the camps. The multi-national force had withdrawn ahead of schedule.
On September 15, Israeli tanks surrounded the camps. The following day, the commander of the Israeli forces, General Amos Yaron, authorised units of the ultra-right Christian Phalangist militia to enter the camps to "clean out the terrorists", with the full approval of Israeli war minister Ariel Sharon. For 42 hours, Israeli units surrounded the camps while their Lebanese neo-Nazi allies slaughtered 3000 defenceless Palestinian men, women and children.
By the end of 1982, Israel remained in occupation of all of southern Lebanon, leading to a resistance movement by Lebanese organisations, including the Communist parties and the Shiite-based organisations Amal and Hezbollah. PLO forces returned to Lebanon to help the Lebanese resistance. In 1985, Israel was forced to withdraw from most of Lebanon, but again remained in occupation of a "security zone" south of the Litani.
The Shiites, who mostly reside in southern Lebanon, are the largest and poorest of the country's three major religious communities, the Christians being the smallest and richest. The Shiites had been largely excluded from the sectarian Lebanese political system, which mandated that the Christian minority have most seats in parliament, followed by the Sunni Muslim community. However, the brutality of the post 1982 Israeli occupation radicalised the Shiites.
Amal was the main Shiite organisation fighting for greater Shiite inclusion in the country's sectarian political system, established in 1943 before the country gained its independence from France. However, Amal had been prepared to deal with the Lebanese right-wing and with the Syrian Baathist regime of Hafez al Assad, leading to a series of Amal attacks on the Communist Party in the early 1980s, and brutal attacks on the Palestinian camps in 1985.
This was part of the attempt by Damascus to take control of the PLO. Israel had occupied the Syrian Golan Heights in 1967, and annexed it in 1981. However, Damascus opposed the independence of the PLO, aiming to use it merely as a diplomatic tool to pressure Israel over the Golan.
The struggle against Israeli occupation had produced a new mood among the Shiites of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Reflecting this, Hezbollah arose as a more radical wing of Amal. Though formed in 1982, it came out into the open in 1985, under the spiritual leadership of Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. It vigorously denounced Amal's attacks on the Palestinians, and expelled Amal from its main base in south Beiruit.
Occupation continues
In 2000, Israel was finally forced to withdraw from most of southern Lebanon. However, it remains in occupation of 28 square kilometres, known as the Shebaa. Neither Hezbollah nor the Lebanese government recognise the current border maintained by Israel and patrolled by UNIFIL.
Israel claims the Shebaa is not occupied Lebanese territory, but part of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. By some stretch of logic, the occupation of the Golan, a brazen violation of international law, is thus claimed as inoffensive. Yet this contradicts the claim made by Israel and its Western backers that Hezbollah is acting as a pawn for Syrian interests.
While Hezbollah is anything but a pawn of the Syrian regime -- which massacred dozens of Hezbollah militants in 1987 -- it is entirely natural that Syria supports Hezbollah military actions on the Israeli border, given the continuing Israeli occupation of Syrian territory.
Once again, Israel has used the pretext of a minor military action by Hezbollah to destroy Lebanon. Others have chimed in that, since Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, there was no excuse for Hezbollah's "aggression". However, apart from the continuing occupation of Shebaa, Israel also continues to hold Lebanese prisoners it kidnapped decades ago. It was only a matter of time before Hezbollah would attempt to capture Israeli soldiers to force negotiations for a prisoner swap.
Israel's current horrific assault on Lebanon is aimed at trying to turn the Lebanese people against Hezbollah and thus to severely weaken it as a popular political movement. As Amin Saikal, director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, points out: "Israel has been increasingly uncomfortable with the speed of Lebanon's recovery following its [1975-90] civil war and democratisation. Israel's policy has been to do whatever it takes to ensure that its Arab neighbours remain weak and divided."
A peaceful and increasingly prosperous multi-religious Lebanon, where the old sectarian constitution has been reformed, and where Hezbollah in 2005 won 23 seats in parliament and for the first time joined the Lebanese government, is a threat by example to the racist 'Jewish" state of Israel.
From Green Left Weekly, July 26, 2006.
greenleft.org.au
114 - Samuel
Abundant, that is besides the point.
The situation with Israel and Lebanon is very similar to our situation with the brown-skinned peoples of the world.
Israel has the right to defend herself, even if that means incinerating children with phosphorus bombs. Besides, the Israeli military has been extremely precise in targeting only Hezbollah soldiers and ammunition storage areas. It is not the fault of the Israelis that “innocent civilians” had the audacity to build their homes in Hezbollah controlled areas. I happen to know for a fact that you are required by local building codes to paint a giant “H” on the top of your home if you are a member of Hezbollah. How many huge letters have you seen on Lebanese houses while watching Fox News? If you break the law, you deserve to be shelled and bombed. Not everyone lives in a private home, but do not despair! The forces of Zionism are well within their bounds to attack large apartment complexes, also. You never know if the guy in 7B, the one with all the cats, has a Katushya rocket pointed at an Israeli border outpost.
How dare these people get in the way of Israeli shrapnel? Those red-hot pieces of metal could have killed a Hezbollah fighter, if only they hadn’t hit a civilian first. The worldwide outcry against Israel is sickening to me. The Lebanese civilians are the problem here. They should have seen past the fact that Hezbollah built them schools, hospitals, recreational facilities, and other vital public services. How dare these civilians act as human sandbags to stop the destruction of Hezbollah?
If you disagree with me, then Israel has the right to kill you, too. Israel is the only nation on Earth, besides the United States, that has the God given authority to kill anyone that it sees fit. Do not stand in the way of Israel. The Chosen People of God will have no qualms about sending someone to your happy little home to kill you. Israel must defend itself, using any means necessary. There are no innocent people, and no people who are not expendable, when the safety of Israel’s northern border outposts is at stake. Minimum incursion must be me with maximum force.
We have your back, Israel. Bring it on. It would be a good time to sit down, be quiet, and practice being good little brown people, Syria and Iran. We are not going to let you get involved in this playground brawl. You should know that if you make one move towards our Jewish buddies, we will have no choice but to bomb you back to the time of the Crusades. Please do not underestimate our resolve. America will stop at nothing to protect its diminutive little doppelganger, and it would be wise to tuck that one under your turban, Damascus and Tehran.
115 - Mark Schannon
Samuel, I know you were intending to be satiric, ironic, and witty. It's a bad idea for you to try that approach. You don't have the ability to pull it off.
You also display a dismal lack of understanding of the situation there--or of what's happening in the world. You've not offered one fact, one cogent argument, or one point of view that isn't pure emotional anti-Israeli sentiment--and I suspect, pure anti-Semitism.
But thanks for trying.
In Jameson Veritas