War crimes are not a valid response to terrorism
Israel has responded to border skirmishes and an abduction of two of its soldiers in Lebanese/Israeli border by Hezbollah militants with the unilateral declaring war on the Lebanese government and launching a devastating bombing campaign into Southern Lebanon.
In essence, it has responded to terrorism with what can only be described as flagrant war crimes.
Regardless of Israel’s claim of only targeting “Hezbollah” facilities and installations, the truth on the ground is clear. Israel has systematically targeted civilian facilities. Roads, entire neighbourhoods have been flattened by the air strikes. Over 350 Lebanese have been killed, the majority being civilians. At least a half of a million people in southern Lebanon have been displaced. Recently reported today, Israel has started targeting television and radio transmission towers within Lebanon, even those unrelated with Hezbollah.
States UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour:
This disproportionate warfare has hardly been lost to the people of Western Europe or the United States. There have been extensive anti-war protests in London as well as significant diplomatic disquiet. Nevertheless, both the United Kingdom and United States have resisted official condemnation of the Israeli action or calls for a ceasefire. The United Kingdom, nevertheless expressed its displeasure unofficially through the comments of Mr Kim Howells, the Foreign Office minister who stated:
It is interesting to read the United States position on the conflict. The United States has by large given explicit consent for the Israeli military campaign and has placed the “blame” solely on Hezbollah. Lebanese civilian casualties, just like those of the Gazans have been ignored behind the glib “Israel has a right to defend itself”. Syria and Iran are the usual bogeymen with their arms support for Hezbollah. The hypocrisy is breathtaking.
Rather than condemning the Israel’s bombing strategy, the United States, Israel’s main weapons supplier, has expedited a shipment of munitions to Israel. Far from simply “looking the other way”, the United States is complicit in this slaughter of civilians.
Even more ludicrous is the suggestion by Australia’s feckless Foreign Minister Alexander Downer who claimed in the 7:30 report:
The international effort for peace must be pursued. Violence begets only violence.
Source articles
Perry T. Israel and Lebanon under fire. Reuters. 23 July 2006.
Tostevin M. Diplomatic flurry in Israel over Lebanon war. Yahoo! News (Reuters). 23 July 2006.
Long G. Thousands march in protest against Israeli attacks. Yahoo! News (Reuters). 22 July 2006.
Noueihed L. Lebanese flee north raising white flags. Yahoo! News (Reuters). 22 July 2006.
Pickler N. Bush: Rice trip will focus on Hezbollah. Yahoo! News (Associated Press). 22 July 2006.
Minister condemns Israeli action. BBC News (International). 22 July 2006.
US rushes precision-guided bombs to Israel: NYTimes. Yahoo! News (Reuters). 22 July 2006.
Israel targets Lebanese television towers. Taipei Times. 23 July 2006.
UN warning on Mid-East war crimes. BBC News (International). 20 July 2006.
Downer defends embassy staff [transcript from TV program]. ABC 7:30 Report. Broadcast 19 July 2006.
Israel has responded to border skirmishes and an abduction of two of its soldiers in Lebanese/Israeli border by Hezbollah militants with the unilateral declaring war on the Lebanese government and launching a devastating bombing campaign into Southern Lebanon.
In essence, it has responded to terrorism with what can only be described as flagrant war crimes.
Regardless of Israel’s claim of only targeting “Hezbollah” facilities and installations, the truth on the ground is clear. Israel has systematically targeted civilian facilities. Roads, entire neighbourhoods have been flattened by the air strikes. Over 350 Lebanese have been killed, the majority being civilians. At least a half of a million people in southern Lebanon have been displaced. Recently reported today, Israel has started targeting television and radio transmission towers within Lebanon, even those unrelated with Hezbollah.
States UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour:
“Indiscriminate shelling of cities constitutes a foreseeable and unacceptable targeting of civilians… Similarly, the bombardment of sites with alleged military significance, but resulting invariably in the killing of innocent civilians, is unjustifiable.”Although Arbour did not specify individuals, she suggested that leaders could bear personal responsibility. It is universally acknowledged that the actions of Hezbollah militants toward rocket attacks on civilians constitute terrorism. The action of the Israeli military and government should be measured by the same standards. Again, Ms Arbour:
“There is an obligation on all parties to respect the principle of proportionality.”As a point of comparison, a total of 35 Israelis have died in the recent conflicts, 15 of them civilians. That is, the Lebanese casualties are over an order of magnitude worse.
This disproportionate warfare has hardly been lost to the people of Western Europe or the United States. There have been extensive anti-war protests in London as well as significant diplomatic disquiet. Nevertheless, both the United Kingdom and United States have resisted official condemnation of the Israeli action or calls for a ceasefire. The United Kingdom, nevertheless expressed its displeasure unofficially through the comments of Mr Kim Howells, the Foreign Office minister who stated:
“I very much hope that the Americans understand what’s happening to Lebanon. The destruction of the infrastructure, the death of so many children and so many people. These have not been surgical strikes. And it’s very difficult, I think, to understand the kind of military tactics that have been used. You know, if they’re chasing Hezbollah, then go for Hezbollah. You don’t go for the entire Lebanese nation.”British Prime Minister Tony Blair official spokesperson has supported Howells statement.
It is interesting to read the United States position on the conflict. The United States has by large given explicit consent for the Israeli military campaign and has placed the “blame” solely on Hezbollah. Lebanese civilian casualties, just like those of the Gazans have been ignored behind the glib “Israel has a right to defend itself”. Syria and Iran are the usual bogeymen with their arms support for Hezbollah. The hypocrisy is breathtaking.
Rather than condemning the Israel’s bombing strategy, the United States, Israel’s main weapons supplier, has expedited a shipment of munitions to Israel. Far from simply “looking the other way”, the United States is complicit in this slaughter of civilians.
Even more ludicrous is the suggestion by Australia’s feckless Foreign Minister Alexander Downer who claimed in the 7:30 report:
“Hezbollah should immediately withdraw from southern Lebanon and leave Israel alone, and the sooner they do that, the better.”I can fully agree that Hezbollah should “leave Israel alone”, but our esteemed foreign minister needs to explain why the Lebanese should “withdraw” from their own country for the sake of the Israelis. Of course, parroting US foreign policy dogma seems to be the standard path for the Howard Government.
The international effort for peace must be pursued. Violence begets only violence.
Source articles
Perry T. Israel and Lebanon under fire. Reuters. 23 July 2006.
Tostevin M. Diplomatic flurry in Israel over Lebanon war. Yahoo! News (Reuters). 23 July 2006.
Long G. Thousands march in protest against Israeli attacks. Yahoo! News (Reuters). 22 July 2006.
Noueihed L. Lebanese flee north raising white flags. Yahoo! News (Reuters). 22 July 2006.
Pickler N. Bush: Rice trip will focus on Hezbollah. Yahoo! News (Associated Press). 22 July 2006.
Minister condemns Israeli action. BBC News (International). 22 July 2006.
US rushes precision-guided bombs to Israel: NYTimes. Yahoo! News (Reuters). 22 July 2006.
Israel targets Lebanese television towers. Taipei Times. 23 July 2006.
UN warning on Mid-East war crimes. BBC News (International). 20 July 2006.
Downer defends embassy staff [transcript from TV program]. ABC 7:30 Report. Broadcast 19 July 2006.
