Mideast Dispatches

Charles,
Israel wouldn't dare use neuclear weapons. if it did it will kill a lot of isralis. Cause unlike japan an island in the ocean, israel is a very small country surrounded by land. If it detonated a neuclear bomb the fall out will kill its own people too and the whole region will becom barren including israel. And even if it did detonate a neuclear bomb, it is surrounded by big countries, like egypt, seria, saudi Arabia, and iran. Those countries will unite, and the west won't support israel anymore for a neuclear detonation. See, israel can't win. No matter how much strong your military power is occupation and injustice cannot survive. Americans the super power has learnt it in vietnum but they forgot. They became very arrogant and attacked Iraq, but they are being reminded again.

All I know is that Israel has defeated(soundly may I add) all the Arab armies in the recent past. They have been simultaneously attacked by all their neighbours and still destroyed them easily.

You think Israel won't exist in the future, keep dreaming, if Israel which is a nuclear power finds itself on the brink, it's the Arabs that will be wiped out by nuclear means.

I know to some this sounds ludicrous, but it is the Middle East and I wouldn't count such a scenario out. The Arabs need to realise they are dealing from a position of weakness and stop their tired old sabre rattling. Everytime they hit Israel, they received ten times the response, and that is "measured" considering what Israel is capable of.

This was an important and moving story. The vulnerable people at Kishorit put a human face on this tragedy, and do more to promote a push for peace than the constant stream of impersonal, desensitizing, and exploitative images of carnage that flow unabated from most major news outlets in their endless pursuit of ratings. Kudos to Adrienne and her co-workers for telling this story, instead of simply turning their camera into a whore for the daily bloodshed. Adrienne is a great journalist who always brings a strong moral perspective to all her reporting. She did the same thing with the Washington sniper case. Instead of fomenting the public's fears, she took on the media for sensationalizing the killings. I hope she's posted somewhere a lot safer soon...although she is really cute in a flak jacket.

Jan,

All of this could have been settled after the war in 1948 if only Jordan and Egypt had not seized the "West Bank" and "Gaza Strip" from the Palestinian people. These two areas, as well as an area of land up north by the Lebanese border were earmarked by the UN as to be Palestinian land. Imagine what could have been resolved by now, some 60 years later.
Instead Israel fought for its life and won against the unprovoked attacks by Lebanon, Syrai, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt (among others) it was perfectly willing to live in peace.
The attacks by neighbouring states and terrorists began even back then. There attacks in 1950, 1953, a war in 1956, attacks in 1963. Israel held off all such aggressions. In 1967, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon made ready to invade Israel again. This time the Israelis spotted the prparartions and struck first, the result was the occupation of the Golan, the West Bank, Gaza and the Sinai. The Arabs tried again 1970, then again in 1973 (Yom Kippur).
Egypt, having had enough made peace with Israel and got bank the Sinai. Jordan soon followed suit and renounced its claim to the West Bank. As of today the only people making war on Israel are those who refuse to recognize its right to exist and renounce violence. When that is done, Palestine will be created from the West Bank and Gaza and maybe even from some territory that they do not currently reside in. When Syria recognizes Israel and gives up the gun it could get back most of the Golan.
The fighting today is not a result of Isreali occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, it is a result of Israel's neighbours not willing to live with a reborn Jewish state.

The people of Kishorit have the answer to all this hatred. Unfortunately nobody is listening.

Thank you for this story Adrienne. I can't help but feel there are many more Arabs and Jews in the Middle East who are working hard to live in peace no matter what the politics of the region are.

Jan,

You say "Do you think Israel can exist in spite of the fact that hundreds of millions want nothing more than to destroy it."

I say the Jewish people have learned survival skills over the last 5,000 years in the face of "hundreds of millions" who have tried to destroy them.

I wouldn't bet against Israel so quickly. The Roman empire has come and gone. The Islamic empire came and went. The British empire came and went. Let's see who has the better survival skills.

David, at my age, repeating oneself is a sign of encroaching senility, so I will refrain. Let me just say this: self-defense is common sense. However, when self-protection morphs into aggression, it's time to at least consider returning - for the good of all - to the drawing board.

While I believe I more or less "get" your point of view, I think you're missing parts of mine, but as an unrepentant pacifist, I can live with that :)

Peace
Shalom
Salaam

Perhaps it's time for CBC to devote some effort to covering the real motive behind Israel's advance into southern Lebanon.

It's not about a captured soldier. It's not about Hezbollah terrorists.
It's about the water flowing in the Litani river, and specifically the 800 million cubic meters available annually to Israel...about 40% of its annual consumption.

This invasion was predicted over a decade ago by Mr. Amery in his Geographical Review article at:
http://web.macam.ac.il/~arnon/Int-ME/water/THE%20LITANI%20RIVER.htm

One would expect that within the next decade Israel will have occupied the southern 30km of Lebanon and constructed appropriate infrastructure to divert the majority of the Litani River waters south to the thirsty nation of Israel.

The agricultural development aspirations of Lebanon's southern Shia community will be trumped by Israeli force with U.S. political and financial support.

The way to end this war once and for all is the same way we ended WWII. Israel has the Nuclear ability to do so, but sadly the world would condemn them.

As much as you might hate the thought, the last time we used such powerful weapons we got 60+ years of relative peace and counting.

The problem is the same as we faced against the Japanese. 2 ideologies that don't agree, and cannot co-exist peacefully. One has to be removed by force. Which side are you on ?

Charles,

Indeed, how long do you think this could possibly go on for? Do you seriously believe that a tiny country like Israel (which is heavily dependant on hand outs and charity from other countries) with a few million inhabitants can continue to exist INSPITE of the hundreds of millions surrounding it who, based on Israel's behaviour, want nothing more now than to destroy it? Politics aside and practically speaking, do you really think Israel can sustain its (high maintenance) existence over the long run? And if so, how? By beating and terrorizing its neighbors into submission? Looking at history, this has never worked before and common sense says it won't in the future.

As we all know, politics change. The US is supporting Israel today but this will not be the case five or ten years from now, then what? I'm sad to say but everyone knows that sooner or later Israel will seize to exist. Israel, as well as people like you, know this very well. That's why they're trying everything possible to prevent the inevitable, in vain I'm afraid.

So you can go on spinning things around, accusing others of ignorance, courting the media, playing victim, and begging for sympathy/charity from the North Americans (the US, the Canadian public seems too smart for this), but both you and I know what will be the tragic end.

Jan

Danielle,

I agree that we should change the way we approach conflict. Unfortunately, Hezbollah disagrees. Their raison d'etre is violence. Their flag even includes an assault rifle.

While I am for peace, I'm not a pacifist, and I believe that if someone attacks you, you should defend yourself.

Witness Khurshid's post if you don't believe my assessment of the ideology of many in the Arab/Muslim world.

Thank you to Adrienne and her crews for bringning the story of Kishorit. As a social worker and woodworker , I was very touch by all the residents and the staff who are dealing day after day with the war in Israel and Lebanon. They choosed to stay together and take cake of one a other. In this time of war, it is good to hear a story where as a human being, we can live in peace whith our neigbour (Israelis and arab togheter) And like a member of Kishorit say's if the world was Kishorit the world will be better. I have learn a lot from handicaped people. I wish peace to all of you in your heart and in your country as soon as possible. Again thank you Adrienne and CBC. Last may, I was very lucky to meet you at the museum of civilization in Hull. You are a very brilliant journalist and women. I hope you will get this message and come back safely from the war zone.
P.S. Good luck in your new posting in London
Sorry for my poor english
Johanne

Occupation can never succeed. History has the proof. Israel will be destroyed today or tommorrow. How long do you think US will be willing to pour millions and millions of dollars into israel. it has been over 50 years now. Most of the israeli citizens have dual citizenship. They will get tired of fighting and leave.

I am glad that Prime Minister Harper and the Government of Canada has finally taken a side and are not backing down despite the pressure. I firmly believe that Israel has the right and responsibility to protect its citizens from Hezbollah rockets and I also firmly believe that the Government of Lebanon has to reign in Hezbollah if they want lasting peace in the region. So that is why I support Israel, not in the killing of innocent Lebanese civilians but protecting its sovereignty.

And on another point I found very interesting everybody was going on about how bad the evacuations went and all this stuff well when you think about it, when was the last time Canadians had to be evacuated from a war zone? A long time ago I believe so who in the current Government would remember what worked well and what didn't if the last evacuations of Canadians from a war zone was 30 plus years ago?

Jan, you probably ought not to be commenting on the knowledge of other responses when your own show how very little you know about the whole situation.

As was pointed out many times, several groups in the region have the stated intentions of wiping Israel off the map. No amount of land concessions except maybe 100% (and even then maybe not) would suffice.

As was also pointed out Israel takes land for defense (the Golan Heights so the territory cannot be used for daily target practise on civilians.) Generally...like the other times they have taken land, they do so and then attempt to negotiate peace by trading the land back for a promise not to be attacked.

Israel is like the little kid in the playground who knows self defense, yet constantly gets attacked by the playground bullies because he looks different. He bloodies their nose after repeated provocation, asks them to leave him alone in the future and goes back to his corner until the next time the bully feels brave.

As for Eric, I knew your post was a joke when I read your line about Israel adhering to the Geneva Conventions. Why don't we ask Hezbollah to do so first ?

"We have met the enemy, and he is us".

David, I'm not here to debate objectives or ideologies with you or anyone; my point was and remains simple enough and I repeat:

"When are we going to change how we deal with these disputes and will we manage to find those ways before we completely destroy that over which we battle so bitterly millenium upon millenium."

It's tragically ironic that the greatest atrocities have always been committed in the name of "God" or "democracy" or ___ (insert ideology of choice) but the result is the same. And so I ask yet again: When are we going to change how we deal with these disputes?

What is accomplished when opposing factions kill and kill and kill until someone caves in and says "OK, whatever you want, just stop blowing up our children"?

I have seen the faces of dead and dying innocents day after day after soul-shattering day for over half a century, and I am un-moved by time-worn rhetoric, platitudes, and "yes but".

If we hope to survive as a species, if we want a living earth to turn over to our children and grandchildren, we have no choice but to find viable alternatives.

Why are there no CBC reporters in Afghanistan where Canadian troops are dying ?

Editor's note: Carolyn Dunn is in Afghanistan for the CBC.

Danielle,

You are 100% correct when you write that it's pointless to try to determine who land "belongs" to by going further and further back in history.

Nevertheless, this is precisely what Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah wish for: They want an Islamic empire extending as far as the greatest extent ever occupied by Islamic armies, because they see the occupation by non-Muslims of land that was once held by Muslims as an affront against God.

So when Israel is faced with mentality like that, I'm sorry: It's better to defend yourself and worry about bad press later. Israel will get bad press anyway, so it might as well press ahead on the military front. Negotiations are useless until Arab and Muslim leaders can internalize and accept the fact of Israel's existence.

Wow, Greg, I hope you have a good therapist to help you deal with that paranoia of yours. You might also want to look into why you were never taught the basics of good manners during your formative years. (Hint: it's in very poor taste to insult the host.)

I'm thrilled to read numerous thankful posts praising CBC reporters for excellent job: good to know your co-citizens are good natured.
But are they smart?
The latest analysis of the media coverage suggests the rule of thumb: divide Lebanese casualties at least by two (as in Qana), and simetimes by 40 (as in Hula).
And don't be too foolish to beleave the footage: it may be forged.
You may say reporters only repeat after officials.
And now we are coming to the heart of the matter: who are these misterious officials?
In south Lebanon there are no other than Hezbollah officials on the ground. And information they provide is nothing more than desinformation.
I'm not inclined to thank a crown corporation for bringing me enemy's propaganda, leave alone it is payed for by tax-payers.
Read more on media bias at http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2006/08/antisemitic_for.html and http://www.davidwarrenonline.com/index.php?artID=630

Adrienne
Thank you for bringing the story of Kishorit. One of the members mentioned in your article, Eddie is my son and he told me all about your visit with Laura.
Thanks again

David (et al) ... from an historical perspective, all of Israel is indeed occupied land. Thousands of years ago a band of nomads ventured forth, seeking a land "promised to them by God". Upon finding said promised land, they slaughtered countless locals, drove out the rest, and claimed that blood-drenched land as their own by divine right.

Gee golly whiz ... where have we heard that story before?

My point isn't an exercise in anti-semitism or pro-"terrorism". Nor is it an attempt to justify violence perpetrated by anyone, in any form, or to support one claim over another, but rather to point out that the debate over to whom a piece of land "belongs" has been going on since our species first crawled out of the primordial muck.

The question is, when are we going to change how we deal with these disputes and will we manage to find those ways before we completely destroy that over which we battle so bitterly millenium upon millenium.

Jan:

Israel occupies land from Syria because
a. Syria lost a war and
b. refuses to recognize Israel
c. used its "land" (AKA the Golan heights) as a shooting range on Israeli farmers
Therefore only a lunatic would give this land "back" to a rogue vicious state like Syria.
As for "Palestinian" lands it occupies, when Hams (which swears it will destroy Israel) is ready to :
a. recognize Israel and
b. negotiate it ...then maybe there would be a beginning.
And similarly for "Lebanon" which is a puppet state of Syria armed and policed by Iranian militia also known as Hezbellah.
I suggest YOU search Wikipedia for "middle East disputes." (here I'll do it for you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East_Conflicts)
because apparently you know precious little about the background to the conflict as evidenced by your platitudes and rhetoric.

Democracy democracy democracy.... We should really stop calling Canada a democracy cuz it doesn't fit the definition of democracy by George, Olmbert, Blair...and Rice.

Yes.. beheadings and calling for the unilateral genocide of all who are not Arab is a fine way to garner sympathy around the world now isn't it?

Remember the reaction after one cartoon was published?

Any sane reason why 21 people were arrested in Toronto for plotting to blow up the CSIS building and the CBC??

I am 100% supportive of Isreal and the way they are handling these never ending attacks by a people who REFUSE to evolve like the rest of us.

It has not ended..nor will it for some time.,.and millions will die because of the likes of Hamas, Hezbollah, PLO, Al Quaida and the likes.

I do not sympathise with serial killers who throw a sheeps coat over themselves and claim they are 'victims'.

Paula P.

Jan ,one question? you use the phrase your tax dollars, does this mean you not Canadian?

Jan, you should go back to where you came from. You are on occupied territory, the land of the Natives. If you think that we are treating the Natives nicely then I invite you to visit the reservatations (refugee camps) in Northern Manitoba. The natives here don't have drinking water, don't have running water, don't have a doctor or dentist. Hydro dams replace the open space where they once hunted and were their own people. After the natives settled on the reservations (refugee camps) the were again relocated because new dams were built and washed out the community.

Vancouver is nice isn't it? GIVE IT BACK!!

Eric,

You say Israel should "give up all occupied Arab land." That's a code for "Israel should cease to exist", because according to Hezbollah and others, all of "Palestine" is occupied.

Israel withdrew from Gaza, and was given Qassam rockets in return.

Before the insane and suicidal Intifadah, the living conditions of Palestinians were improving. They were near the top for life expectancy, health and education in the Middle East. Since their ill-conceived decision to go to war against Israel, their society has collapsed, and they nourish themselves with hatred instead of food.

When Israel is faced with an enemy like Hezbollah, for which the death of a Lebanese civilian is as acceptable a victory as the death of an Israeli, it has no choice but to try to destroy Hezbollah.

Ron,

Terrorist friends? You're calling me a terrorist simply because I think Israel should return the land it occupies since 1967 back to its rightful owners, peacefully? Is this a joke? Did I once condone any harm coming to Israel? I was promoting legal means for the Arabs to collect damages from Israel and prosecute its leadership for war crimes, and that defines me as a terrorist? Your definition of "terrorist" is someone who disagrees with Israeli policy. Sorry to say this but this clearly conveys your (low) level of intelligence.

Jan

Isn't it telling, how the vast majority of these "responses" to Adrienne's story about Kishorit do not even respond to the story at all, let alone the hope and compassion it conveys - but simply return to the conflict itself, and in some cases, seemingly with the aim of fuelling its fires.

If we will so readily eschew the positive for the negative, no wonder our world is going the way it is!

Adrienne, the glimpse of the situation of Shiri and her friends is a profoundly moving story. Thank you very much for bringing it to us. You and your colleagues are at great risk, but the work you're doing is appreciated beyond measure here at home.

Hizboulla is a tool for Iran, mindless and uneducated, their constitution dictated to them by the fanatics in Iran. Lebanon's government is a Syrian Puppet and talk box. Both Iran and Syria lack the courage and the smarts to face Israel head on so they hide behind their mindless drones (hizboulla). Neither, Iran or Syria have a moral stand here, they simply use the conflict to keep their own uneducated populations distracted from the oppressions they face on a daily basis. Until the UN faces the facts that it isn’t hizboulla that is the problem, they are only the tool. It is Iran & Syria that are the problem. Both of these terrorist states need to be isolated from the civilized world. Economic embargos that prevent any trade what so ever, cutting them off from the rest of the world. They are 3rd world trouble makers that need to be put in their place. Cut of their supplies of both weapons and money and they will eventually crumble from with in. As they get weaker they will drop their tool (hizboulla). And without the support of Iran & Syria hizboulla will be reduced to a bunch of thugs with sticks and stones that run and hide under rocks. Without any direction, money or weapons the mindless drones (hizboulla) will also crumble from with in. It is really that simple. After which the UN can put in place education programs, economic aid, establish borders and help rebuild the region without the interference of cowardly dictators that hide behind the skirts of their neighbors.

Jan,

I wish Canada would start acting more like Isreal and I am very glad we finally have a government in place that is not bowing down to the so called "Canadians" from the arab world.
Here is a wonderful quote from one of your terrorist friends.

"My message to the loathed Jews is that there is no god but Allah, we will chase you everywhere! We are a nation that drinks blood, and we know that there is no blood better than the blood of Jews. We will not leave you alone until we have quenched our thirst with your blood, and our children's thirst with your blood. ... In the name of Allah, we will destroy you, blow you up, take revenge against you, purify the land of you, pigs that have defiled our country. This operation is revenge against the sons of monkeys and pigs." from the message of a suicide bomber.

To P from Vancouver:

As you're quite handy in looking up sites on the internet I think you can Google/Yahoo it and see what it really means. BTW, doesn't the Likud doctrine call for a state of Israel that extends from the river to the sea? Wouldn't that include a part of Jordan? Seems menacing to me.

Regardless of what these uncivilised terrorist organizations say on their websites, the majority of Arabs do not want to destroy Israel. So, putting all this aside, and knowing that Arabs want to live side by side with Israel in peace, will Israel return the occupied terretories (to Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine) and allow Palestine to exist as a viable nation?

Jan

P, the toothpaste once had to be put in the tube! This from an 11th gen. canoe paddlin canuckistanian, when I retire I'll immigrate to either France or Ireland and claim refugee status depending whose benifits are more satisfactory to me liking stating the natives sent me back_/\_

Thanks for Mr Harper for supporting the right side of this war.

The Jews are a sane even though they have been pursecuted for centuries by everyone. Still they excel in everything that is good, science, medicine, technology, entertainment, etc.

The islamic world excels in murder, death, ignorance, misogyny etc

The CBC is 100% wrong in it's supportive views of islam and it's continued villigication of Jews. Many Canadians want the CBC sold to private enterprise and all the old commies put out to pasture. The young commies will have to find real jobs.

Jan:

If you go to Hamas' web site as well as that of Hebullah and read THEIR constitution then you might be "surprised" to learn that what they say in the media is totally opposite what their own manifesto says. Eradication of the Jewish state is what they really want and say. But you oh so politically correct can't smell the coffeee from the horse ticky.
BTW what did you mean by Israel Lobby controlling the media? I suspect yet another version of the old canard from the "Protocols of Zion"

Just a friendly reminder to those cheering for Hebollah in this discussion: it is an outlaw in Canada, and you may be prosecuted for your support.
Canada is a sort of at war with Hezbollah. Remember, during evacuation some Canadians were refused entry on security grounds.
And Canadian soldiers are dying in Afganistan fighting a similar enemy.
So when Canadians will start taking sides? I mean real ones, not the "dash-Canadians" with a burden of overseas memories.
We have already 19 in custody on terror charges. So how many will it take to define your position?
As far as natives are concerned, go ask them. The recent events in Caledonia don't allow to be optimistic about their answer.
And I bet, if they had such textbooks at school as Palestinian children have, we would ALL start being blown up in buses very soon, including those who came here from the Middle East.

Adrienne: though not of religious inclination, I "pray" daily for your safety and for the safety of all the correspondents who put themselves in harm's way to bring these stories to us. These stories are painful to watch (or read) but offer a vital human face to what otherwise would be a chaos of multi-governmental/factional "he said, she said" and mind-numbing statistics.

The words "take care" are used so casually we don't really hear them any more, but on rare occasions, they regain their full meaning.

In that spirit, I say "take care" ... and thank you.

To P. from Vancouver,

Nice spin! I liked how you attempted to get readers on your side by going for an "all or nothing" approach. You said that people are asking Israel to give back "ALL" the land back. To strengthen your point you made references to Canada and the natives. My answer to you is:
- Who said that Israel should give back "ALL" the land back? The Arabs will be more than happy if Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders. That has been stated time and again by them. But Israel and its sympathisers, such as yourself, insist that the Arabs want "ALL" back simply to avoid entering into serious discussions with them over territorial claim. No discussions means no land back, which is what Israel wants.

- Canada is a wonderful country that treats its natives humanely and accomodates them within its borders. Israel on the other hand behaves like a brutal occupier who humiliates the Palestinians, demolishes their homes, forces them into refugee camps, builds massive walls around them, etc. So please do not insult Canada and all what it stands for by comparing it to Israel!

Israelis love to claim "shared values" with Canada and the US to get your sympathy and support (your tax dollars). But ask yourselves, what do you have in common with Israel? Would Canada EVER behave in such a way towards anyone? My guess is never.

Jan

Hezbollah, Hamas, Hagganah, Irgun, Palmach, Stern Gang...same thing, same goals. The first two evolved in their birth countries...the others came from Europe to claim territory lost over 2000 years ago.

I have served both in the Canadian Army and in the IDF:

I find it quite funny how some Arabs hold the view that they are 'victims' and are always being 'humillated'. The variouse Arab nations start the wars and then get their ass kicked... thus they are victims!!!... how interesting... I have an idea stop attacking Israel and then you will not be a victim.

The actions taken by Hizboullah has nothing to do with the Palestinians or the sheba farms (syrian territority) but with Hizbollah justifying its existance...if Hizboullah didn't have Israel as an enemy it would have had to invent israel as an enemy...

Its also interesting that when israel leaves lebanoun, gaza and is about to leave the majority of the west bank...Hamas and Hizboulah attack israel... If that is going to be the actions of these groups then i will be very happy if the idf pounds them back to the stone age...

Brilliant work Adrienne. Keep it up!

While I did not vote for Mr. Harper I am very pleased by his response in this matter. Israel is defending itself. It is just that simple. Why is it that Israel has shelters for it's civilian population all over the country? It's because they are under constant threat of similar rocket attacks from every angle. They have tried to work out peaceful solutions and are attacked for it. They have been pushed against a wall and it's time to push back. Anyone who thinks Israel is targeting civilians clearly does not have an understanding of their capability. They could kill 5,000 civilians a day if that was their goal. They have shown incredible restraint in their actions considering their enemy repeatedly states they want to 'drive them into the sea'.

It is quite clear to me, logically, that if Israel wants a buffer zone for their own benefit and enjoyment,(it was in their power all along to implement)it should be carved out of their own (borrowed) territory; and they can have as much as they want.

Excellent article on human kindness and compassion in the midst of war. And how well these "challenged" individuals adapt to the situation. From the blogs and the "popular" opinions I have observed it's clear to me that many are incredibly ignorant of the the Middle East history (i.e. that both sides of the conflict have historic claims to territory, that Israel which has a lawful reason to exist as a state has never been accepted by the others, and that proportionality would be satisfactory if Israel was on the losing side.) One has to question the motives of those who apparently believe that Israel should "give back ALL the lands to the Arabs." (in other words all of Israel.) Maybe Canadians should go back where we all came from too? To them I say try putting back tooth paste once it's out of the tube!

The nation of Israel is a democracy with an elected government. The nation of Lebanon is a parliamentary democracy. Hezbollah and Hamas are not nations. Lebanon should condemn groups which wage war from within its borders.

Eric, you just forgot #8: pack bags and go away. That's actually the goal. And that's the reason why there are wars, including this one.
Solution? Simple indeed: give up all eight points and stop trying to throw jews into the sea.

Eric man, I love you! You said it so well. The answer to all of this is obvious to everyone but the Israelis don't even wanna go anywhere near it because it opens up a whole can of worms for them. This can of worms I'm referring to is the much hated topic of "returning occupied land". Israel wants to avoid this topic at all costs because it simply does NOT want to return the land it stole from other people. Well, how could anyone in the world accept such conditions where you must kiss your sweet land goodbye simply because Israel wants it! Hey Israel, check your books, is Vancouver mentioned anywhere in there? Because if it is then Canada MUST sign it over to you at this very moment. I'm sure Canadians wouldn't mind, afterall they have so much territory. You see how ridiculous this sounds? Yet we expect it to sound perfectly logical to the Arabs, WHY?

Just one question to Eric: you mentioned that the media is focusing almost entirely on the 40 so Israelis killed and ignoring the 900+ Lebanese civilians slaughtered. Any idea why that is? I mean, why should the media choose sides? Oh wait, I just remembered........it's called the ISRAEL LOBBY. Silly me, how could I forget. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, google it!

Jan

So simply you are sad because you are going to the shultter 3 or 4 times everyday for 10 or 20 mins!!

Do you know that 1 million on the other side of the borders have been displaced? Do you know that today your country ordered the people of Sidon to evacuate? Do you know that while the whole world media is concentrating on the death of less than 30 isreali civil. 900 died on the other side of the borders some of them are in areas very far from the borders?

Why should isreal kill 40 kids (by error!!!) and then simply apologize? then in less than 1 week kill 28 peasents and simply apologize?

Why should Hezbollah accept this apology? Will you accept Hezbollah apology?

Do you know that the solution is so simple and easy?

1- Return the 10,000 arab presioner held without trials in your jails,
2- Return shabaa,
3- Return the Golan heights,
4- evacuate the west bank according to 1967 UN resolution,
5- Apply the Geneva conv. and stop building settlements on occupiied land and evecuate already built settlements.
6- return all occpied arab land
7- Give away your nuclear arms

So simple? and then you can expect to live in peace.

"Refresh everyone's memory of resolution 242, which was vetoed by the US in 1967, for starters."

Actually, no it wasn't vetoed by the US.

And 242 doesn't say what you seem to think it says. Among other things, there's a very deliberate ambiguity built into it: it calls on Israel to withdraw from "territories" occupied in the war. You can read about it here: http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1948to1967_un_242.php

"Israel will have to increase its attack on these rockets even though civilians will die"

This was definitely a good one: informative and with a human face.
And it once more highlights the difference between approach to civilians and human life on both sides of the border.
Would there be much less civilian casualties if Hezbollah built shelters instead of bunkers?

Canadian journalist interview Canadian journalists because it is safer.

A few questions for the oh-so-wise and even-handed Canadian opposition parties and their greatest supporter the Canadian news media: When missiles fired from urban areas in Lebanon can reach large Israeli cities such as Haifa AND are being fired at Haifa, AND are hitting Haifa WHO is going to stop them? A UN Resolution?
What is an acceptible number to be fired in to Israel every day without a response from Israel? 10? 15? 200?
Maybe Israel should give Hezbollah and Hamas what they want and all this will end. No Lebanese civilians would die. Israel MUST do what they're doing (and I fear worse is to come) OR give in to the terrorists demands. They want only one thing: the destruction of Israel. Period. Not a real tough choice when you think about it.
It is to Israel's great credit that, faced with all this, so FEW Lebanese civilians have died.

I would like to know what the well-intentioned people who are horrified by the death and injury of civilians in Lebanon (impossible not to be moved by it)and condemn Israel for it demanding for an immediate cease-fire would have Israel do?
There aren't too many options and all the others just place a big target over the country.
Supporters of Hezbollah are masquarading as the "horrified and well-intentioned" knowing full well that a cease-fire with Hezbollah's armaments still in tact is a great victory for Hezbollah and terrorism.
That Hezbollah is able to fire 2-300 rockets a day deep into Israel AFTER Israel's best efforts to rid southern Lebanon of rockets for 3 weeks underscores just how deeply entrenched Hezbollah has become.
Israel will have to increase its attack on these rockets even though civilians will die. Israel cannot let this go, and never could.
It is clearly, 100% the fault of Hezbollah and their supporters that civilians on both sides are being killed and maimed. 100%.
Time after time, and I dare say it will happen again here too before it all ends, Israel has shown an eagerness to do ANYTHING for peace with its neighbours -- except giving up its ability to defend itself -- and Israel finds itself ALWAYS facing some fanatical leader or terrorist group that throws in a monkey wrench. Their aim is only one -- destroy Israel.
Got an option that will stop the killing and give Israel security? Other than that which Israel is doing now? I thought not.
IF HEZBOLLAH and HAMAS showed 1/1000th the concern Israel has for human life terrorism couldn't operate in the region.

The author refers to the torture the Israelis are going though. First of all this is the price I guess Israeli citizens have decided to pay for “a tooth for 10 tooth” policy and secondly at least the Israeli citizens have the access to a bomb shelter but what about thousands of innocent Lebanese who can not even have the resources to evacuate the area. An innocent blood is innocent regardless of being it a Jew, Christian, Muslim or anyone. For the past 50 years, Israel’s adaptation of the retaliatory policy which has escalated more hostilities shows that the long lasting peace is not on the Israel agenda.
Javed
Toronto, Ontario

i am saddened, ashamed and sickened by prime minister harper's attitude, comments and handling of the current crisis in the middle east. after callously emitting a "measured response" to the killing of dozens of children in qana, he stubbornly refuses to admit his mistake and misrepresentation of canadian values. to try to control the damage to his and his party's image, he now resorts to the time tested fear and guilt tactics of the americans (as well as countless other war-mongering governments throughout history) by calling the old "what...do you support terrorists?" bluff as an excuse to condone war and excuse killing.
I don't buy it, canadians don't buy it. no mr harper, we don't support terrorists, and we don't support, not an iota more, the brutal, careless killing of civilians by aggression-bent nations either.
isn't it ironic that when "the right to defend yourself" as mr harper's current crusade goes, happens in, for example africa, where conservatives and their good buddies the u.s. republicans have little to no political interests, nothing is done, no "stand up to the bad guys" is heard, and no one seems to care who dies at the hands of who?
this is NOT about political alignment OR left-wing liberal guilt rubbish, this is about choosing human life over killing, humanity over aggression. i will stand up loud and proud against this war.
mr harper is wrong. dead wrong.

It is in the small events of life like your visit to Kichorit and your exchange with Shiri that lays the answer to all this hate.
Keep on breathing and sharing and,
thank you Adrienne.

This is just another example of how Hizbolla will shoot rockets at innocent people. There is not much to add here. I doubt that Hizbolla has an apolgy for this facility and its residents.

Moving blog; I am sure that there are many areas on both sides of the border that would love to live in peace. The definition of peace however varies greatly from one side or the other. We, as Canadians, have no idea how deep is the hatred between both Israel and any arabic states. I would recommend strongly that CBC run the British documentary “Judah and Mohammad”, which was showed in the UK on Monday 31 July. I was appalled by the systematic brainwash of the palestinians youth. Any opportunity to pounce hatred in their mind is exploited. Any occasion to sow the seeds of martyrdom is drawn on. I was surprised on the other hand with the israeli teachers” efforts to stay balanced, which unfortunately did not seem to have a positive effect on the youth. Some would say that the arabs hatred toward Israel is her own doing. She is partly to blame, rightly so, since any of her military or police activity is seen as being that of an oppressor. However, for the last six years, it is the israelis that have been making concessions, without receiving anything else than Katyouchias, terrorist attacks and bad press. No wonder they decided to retaliate to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Do not get swayed by the rhetoric of the muslims in Canada. After watching that documentary, I know that I will never again be duped by it. I see no end to this conflict in my lifetime.

It's nice to see a reality check like this in the midst of all the hoo-ha over who is to blame for the latest outbreak of violence.

All the same, please do more 'background' pieces in the future on the whys and wherefores of the Middle East's political turmoils. Everything in the news seems to have 'just happened' - I mean that is how it is often reported - and without context can intelligent, voting citizens ever make the right decisions at home, in terms of which domestic political party's foreign policy to support, for instance, if they have no real idea of what's going on in the world?

Refresh everyone's memory of resolution 242, which was vetoed by the US in 1967, for starters. Why is it so unreasonable that those Hamas 'terrorists' are demanding territorial concessions based on that decision? We could have peace tomorrow if Israel would give up, once and for all, it's weird 'manifest destiny' approach to politics, which involves nibbling away at territory that is not theirs to take, all while pretending to be terribly put-upon by those obnoxious 'terrorists'.

These are just some of my thoughts related to the 'mideast crisis':

1. inocent civilians... what does this mean...are their guilty civilians? I am confused by much of the reporting I have seen... why are reporter interviewing reporters all the time -- its like buddy talking to buddy and they don't know what they are talking about. I would also like to know of a recent war (past 100 years) that has not involved the killing of civilians.

2. I would also like to know why news reporter don't explain legal term properly. like what does the term 'Proportionality' mean in an international law context. Was the American responce to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour a proportionate response... Canada entering WWII was that proportionate (as far as I can recall the Germans never attacked Canada)... Natos bombing of civilians (500 killed) in Serbia was that proportionate... how about the UKs' war in the Falklands was that proportionate. When Canadian troops kill 'taliban' in Afganistan and the Canadian troops kill 'inocent civilians' (bystanders) are the Canadian troops war criminales are we going to have war crime trial in Canada?

3. What should Israel do whe Hizboulla attacks and kills their troops and civilians? What should Israel do when the Hizboulla fighters are inside urban areas...do nothing? How is a war to be fought in an Urban area legaly?...

4. I also have a problem with the UN... it seems to be many news reporters talk about the UN as some great organization... but when one looks at the membership of the UN at least 80% of the member countries are not democratic... and are butchers... for example the government of Zimbabwe is killing thousands and thousands of prople every day by not feeding them... why is this not news worthy?...does a bomb have to be droped on them to make it news worthy?...

all the best

Joseph Henry

Not a comment on this particualr blog entry but one in general for the CBC reporters in the area: Arsenault and Ayed over the years and the others more recently especially since mid-Jul. Brilliant work that shows gutsy reporting and from what I can determine objectivity without the flash some other media organizations do. Very impressive and most appreciated. CBC and its employees should be proud of their combined and individual efforts.

The Isreal invasion and resulting death of innocent civilians, many of whom are young children, demonstrate the inability of the United Nations to act with any semblance of urgency. Again we see the United States, who have enough problems of their own in Iraq, using their veto to support what to me is a war crime.Israel wants a buffer zone...what good will a bufer zone do against long distance rockets? I had admired Israel for many years until their actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Their actions are beyond shame.