Thursday, July 13, 2006
Further Military Action
Hezbolla has retaliated against Israeli bombardment by firing dozens of rockets into Israel, killing two Israelis and injuring dozens more.
Lebanon has called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council. France and Russia have condemned both the capture of the two Israeli soldiers that prompted the Israeli assault and Israel’s “disproportionate” use of force. President Bush has maintained that “Israel has the right to defend itself” but also urged that Israel not do anything that would destabilize the Lebanese government. Of course, the United States has recent memories of what happens when a regional government is destabilized.
Speaking of destabilizing governments, Israel has struck the Palestinian Foreign Ministry lately, part on it ongoing military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel has already taken 120 Palestinian lawmakers and government officials. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has threatened a “long war” as Israeli military forces bombard the civilian infrastructure of Palestine, targeting power plants, civilian homes, schools, and government buildings. The Al-Arkam primary school was struck along with the Palestinian Foreign Ministry. Israel said the attacks were a reprisal for the firing of a homemade Qassam rocket into Askalon, causing no casualties or damage. On Wednesday, Zeev Boim, an aide to Olmert, urged hundreds of thousands of residents in northern Gaza to “start packing.” Avigdor Lieberman, a member of the Knesset and the head of the fourth largest political party in Irsrael, urged the Israeli military to conduct a carpet bombing campaign of Palestinian population centers.
Olmert has refused to consider negotiation with the terrorists who have seized the Israeli soldier that started this latest military action. Israel has 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in its jails, many held without charges or trial dates.
Meanwhile, the Israeli operations in Lebanon have widened, including attacks against “at least” five bridges, residential buildings, and an electrical sub-station. Olmert has made it clear that, "This morning's events are not a terror attack but the action of a sovereign state which attacked Israel without any reason ... The Lebanese government is responsible. Lebanon will pay the price.”
Indeed, 54 Lebanese civilians have already paid the ultimate price, as will many more. Hundreds of thousands more will pay a price as their country’s infrastructure disintegrates under Israeli bombardment. Israel has paid very little: two captive soldiers, another half a dozen or so dead in military operations, and two dead civilians.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea disagreed with Olmert’s characterization of the Lebanese government being responsible for the actions of Hezbolla: “Only when decisions are made within Cabinet or Parliament can these be regarded as the choice of the Lebanese people," Geagea said in an interview with LBCI television.
It continues to amaze me that the abduction of two soldiers by a paramilitary force in Lebanon can justify (is Israel’s eyes) the bombardment of an entire country and scores of civilian deaths. That’s like a couple of Mexican bandits crossing the border into Arizona and killing a couple of people and the United States using that as a pretext for an invasion of Mexico.
Israel has “abducted” 10,000 Palestinians and kept them in jail, many without due process, and will continue to do so for an indeterminate time as part of their occupation of Palestine. A few Palestinians do the same thing to one soldier and all of Gaza is attacked by Israel, resulting in hundreds of deaths and massive destruction. Because of the abduction of one soldier.
Words fail me.
# posted by BitterHarvest @ 3:56 PM 
