It is nothing new for a nation to defend itself. Every government has a commitment to proctect its citizens. The Hezbollah, The Hamas and other radical islamic groups in Lebanon and Palestine have of course threatened Israelis for a very long time. In fact Israel has been threatened by its neighbors since its beginnings. Israel’s “fight to survive” is well known.

It is very difficult to accept the current Israeli attacks on Lebanon as self defense. The reasons Israel gives for this attack are the abduction of two Israeli solders and missile attack on Israeli cities. Both have been done by the Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israeli attacks, though, have not been confined to destroying Hezbollah military targets. Delierate and massive destruction of the Lebanese infrastructure vital for all Lebanese citizens go way beyond fighting Hezbollah forces attacking Israel. The Hezbollah certainly recieve thier weapons and munition through this infrastructure, but destroying Hezbollah supply lines is in no relation to the suffering caused by the inability for all Lebanese to transport goods (such as food), electricity, water etc. Furthermore self defense cannot justify the indiscrimination of the bombings, which have caused the deaths of many Lebanese civilians hardly if at all connected to the Hezbollah.

Israel has transgressed acceptable actions of self defence. Israel hopes to achive more security for thier citizens this way. The chances that the Israeli attacks on Lebanon will provide more protection for Israel and its citizens are very small. The damage Lebanon and its citizens have sustained is emense. Hundreds innocent Lebanese have been killed.

No matter what reasons Israel gives for thier actions, they must be condemned.

Popularity: 13% [?]