Mideast Dispatches

To hm,
I will repeat myself since you seem hell bent on ignoring what I'm saying: I DO NOT WANT ANY CANADIAN SERVING IN ANY FOREIGN ARMIES. PERIOD.
And no american is fighting for my freedom or the freedom of any canadian, we have our government and military to do that for us. And last time I checked,I'm already free thanks to CANADIAN soldiers.

hm says: "Just one more thing if you wish to make it Jewish-Canadian, then I think you may wish to change Lebanese -Canadian to Muslim -Canadian."

I say Jewish-Canadian because they are the only religious group of Canadians that Israel allows to serve in their military.Only Jews are permitted to serve in the Isreali military. This is their own laws.

It is Israel that defines itself as a Jewish State, not I. I am merely using their own termonology in the course of this discussion.

To Brandon,

About serving in the Israeli military,you have to be jewish to serve in their military.
Israel does not permit non-jews to serve in any of its military wings. Arab-Israelis are not even permitted to serve in their military.

So religious or not,unless you're jewish you can't serve in the Israeli military.

I agree with John, I vehmently oppose any canadians serving in foreign militaries whether Israeli or otherwise.

JD writes: "Try stopping the oil flow to the west, see how fast the west destroys you!!!"

You need to re-read Karims post Rambo, he said to stop oil from flowing to Israel.

And why would the 'west' destroy karim, he's Canadian? He's one of us and he makes a very valid point.

I think we should place oil embargos on Israel and boycott them politically and financially.

Lena,
My apology, you are absolutely right. Iran is predominantly Shia. Same as Hezbollah.
Do you really think Iran is looking for "balance in the region", and not the creation of a huge Shiite polity stretching all the way to Spain, as Ahmadinejad has said? I believe Admadinejad. If you think he's lying, I'd be interested to know why.
My definition of nutcase is someone who does any or all of the following, athough this is an abbreviated list and could be greatly expanded: states as his goal wiping another state or states off the map, wants impose their religion on others by threat of death, believes that any ethnic/religious group are born of pigs and dogs or are "satan" thereby justifying their murder by dehumanising and demonising them.

To Karim:

Try stopping the oil flow to the west, see how fast the west destroys you!!!

To Laura Finsten,

Iran is a shiite state. NOT sunni as you ingnorantly and incorrectly but, so arrogantly posted.

What is your' classification of nutcase? Olmert is a nut case in the eyes of 99% of the world.

I think balance of power in the middle east is desperately needed and if Iran achieves nuclear capabilities that will shut Israel up because as it stands right now, Israel is the ONLY NUCLEAR THREAT IN THE REGION.

You need to get your' bare basic facts straight before you squawk about what you obviously know nothing about.

Remember finsten: Iran is Shiite Muslim. NOT Sunni.

To John from Calgary...how on Earth does my serving in the Israeli military endanger Canada? Just so you know, I also served for 5 years in the Canadian military as well. My decision to serve in the Israeli army was a personal choice based upon my own convictions. Oh, and don't assume that I'm a Jewish Canadian, I am a Canadian, and not very religious.

Something is eluding me about the Robert Fisk article.
Maybe Mr. Fisk is looking too much at one tree to not see the forest ?
Isreal negotiated with the UN with its resoltions that were not enforced.
The missiles were widely known and reported for MANY YEARS.
That the only issue that Hezbollah is concerned about is Sheba Farms is his assertion.
Sure is a lot of work over many years for one small piece of land that was not in the original negotations and the UN declares is not in dispute.
God help us if it was something major.
Land was given back - Gaza , Lebanon was left , perhaps areas of the West Bank.
That has not solved anything at all . Indeed it has stoked the fires.
It was not just a simple abduction / kidnapping / capture of several soldiers.
It was a statement that something had to be done sooner than later after many years.
Comparing events of the capture that the British acted civilized towards the Irish IRA.
Imagine if the IRA started shelling populated British area ( London etc) with hundreds of missiles a day.
As for dismissing Iran and its president of little consequence far away.
This was dismissed out of hand as " absurd".
Iran is involved in this conflcit in the most major way when for rational ( at least for western based rationism ) its support is "out of proportion :.
Cash , high tech military equipment - night vision goggles , communication equipment , long range rockets , silkworm missiles fired at the most sophisticated warships by Iranian " advisors".

Mr. Fisk these are not events to be taken lightly.
Iran is involved at the present in a major disturbing manner.
To dismiss Iranian threats out of hand when even at this point the level of support of support is quite substancial and ongoing is form of debate that is rather dismissive.
This will all end in crying.

Sonia: Yes it did kill 11 Israeli soldiers, but you are missing the point. If you think Israel hasn't killed more Hezbollah fighters than Israli casualties, then you are sorely mistaken. And as for the civilian deaths, Hezbollah, deliberatley targets civilians, Israel does not, and even warns them to flee, before they attack. Think Hezbollah would ever give a warning, other than to the Arab-Israelis? Cheers.

To John in Calgary

First there are several non-citizens severing in the Canadian and American Military’s
So I guess these people fighting for your freedom should be removed from service.
Have the Lebanese -Canadian population chosen you to speak for them?
Just one more thing if you wish to make it Jewish-Canadian, then I think you may wish to change Lebanese -Canadian to Muslim -Canadian.

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to wake people from their mental fog of denial and crystalize in clear focus certain ugly realities which many would rather not acknowledge.
The tragedy I speak of are the dead and injured Israeli civillians who have fallen victim to the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hezballah, the brave young IDF soldiers who are now falling in the defense of their families and countrymen, and the "truely innocent" Lebanese civillians who lose their lives as unintended collateral victims because of this unprovoked aggression by the terrorist army in South Lebanon.
The ugly reality I speak of is the fact that there is an active agenda underway being pushed by Iran to try to exterminate the people and the nation of Israel in gradual stages. This agenda has been plainly stated by their leadership in unambiguous terms.
It is good to see that now the overwhelming majority of people in Israel are awake and that their hearts are beating as one in this defineing moment of clarity. May God bless Israel in her just defense and all those who seek a just peace.

I am sitting here reading all of your articles, and my mind is going in circles. Everybody has a solution and everybody has someone to blame and hate. Instead of everybody choosing sides and blaming each other, why don't we try to put some pressure on our goverments to get off their butts and do something about this. I can already hear the groans as you say "What can Canada do!'Canada can do alot and used to be looked at for peace plans and initiatives. It is now a sad fact that we have chosen to abandon that role, something that made me feel so proud to be Canadian. Who's right and who's wrong, who gives a care. It has got to stop. Nobody on either side of this tragedy has the right to kill innocent civilians, bottom line. Why doesn't each person writing in to blame the other on this site, blame the politicians that are using this for political and finacial reasons. Be it getting re-elected or trying to save jobs at an "arms"
plant, it is their fault. Maybe if we all blamed them, and they heard it, something would be done.

"The reason Lebanon won't get the Shebba farms back is because according to the UN they belong to Syria also, not Lebanon." – Charles

Given the context that this statement was presented in, what argument is being suggested: that Israel is acting as caretaker of the land on Syria’s behalf and thereby kindly protecting Lebanon from Syria’s wrath; that the UN, normally treated with contempt by proponents of the Lebanese invasion (especially given the UN’s recent admonitions), suddenly and conveniently serves a useful purpose?

Today CBC interviewed Robert Fisk from British newspaper “The Independent”, and a 30-year resident of Beirut. He had many interesting comments to make with regards to this war, including the claim that Hezbollah says it will end its aggression against Israel when the Israeli occupation of Shebaa Farms ends (see timeframe 11:08-12:18):

www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/media/200608/20060810thecurrent_sec2.ram

Now if Israel truly has no interest in Shebaa Farms – and its water resources as suggested by some here – and thus that land serves no useful purpose, then there is a simple test to see if the above claim is valid: release the land to Lebanon’s care and leave. If fighting stops, it would be a remarkably simple and innocuous way to stop the bloodshed. Should Syria indeed want the land and not want to give it to Lebanon – contrary to the suggestions of others here – the dispute would be shifted to one between Lebanon and Syria, leaving Israel out of the picture. If fighting does not stop, however, then the current war can resume to the damnation of all players. When that finally plays out, Israel still has no right to occupy Shebaa Farms and still must leave. Unless, of course, the true reason for its occupation is the water…

(Any idea what the going rate is for a desalination plant versus the cost of an F-16?).

I see several comments about Georges Galloway's video. I want to point out to my Canadian brethren that Galloway is a fool, whom lost whatever credibility he might have had once in the UK by participating to the Big Brother reality show. Please, do a little background check before putting this guy on a pedestal; there are far more serious and credibile individuals than he. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and to give it - I just would like this forum to be an exchange of educated ones.

Having lived in the Middle-East, I am utterly convinced that no one will solve the existing issues unless the arabs finally accept the presence of Israel and her right to exist. This is what this article is all about, to me. The Jews are united in their sense of survival. Unfortunately, they need to find somehow a way to end the cycle of violence.
Lebanon must disarm the terrorist groups and ensure that Israel will not be attacked. Israel must leave Lebanon, pay for the damages it inflicted and help the reconstruction.
Those of us that condemn the Israelis for having "invaded" Lebanon, it seems that you've forgotten that Southern Lebanon is not Lebanese-controlled territory, but Hizbollah's. And these guys are trained, supported and controlled by the Iranians and the Syrians and are aiming to destroy Israel. So, pray do tell, who's Lebanon's invaders?

Following are excerpts from an interview with Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on July 20, 2006.

Interviewer: Nasrallah also said he was fighting for the sake of the nation.

[...]

Walid Jumblatt: No one empowered him to fight from Lebanon for the sake of the nation.

If Syrian patronage over Lebanon is restored, we will have a dictatorship, like the Syrian and Iranian regimes.

The question should be directed at Hassan [Nasrallah], and at the Syrians and Iranians with their agenda: Do they really want a Lebanese state, or do they want an open battlefield, which would serve Iran's nuclear interests and expansionist goals in the Gulf? As for Syria, it benefits when Lebanon turns into rubble. The poorer the Lebanese people gets, the more it is destroyed, the more the elite emigrate. How does [Bashar Al-Assad] manage to rule Syria? Through poverty. He rules it through power and intelligence agencies. He rules a people that is wretched, imprisoned. He wants to do the same to Lebanon, because he envies us. He envies our pluralism, our vitality, our culture, and our free press. What did he do to the Syrian intellectuals? He imprisoned them. Why? Because they had the courage to say: "Let's made some changes."

To Brandon in Toronto who said "ok well how about the 90% of the Hezbollah kills being innocent civilians?"

Hezbollah has killed many more millitary men during this war compared to Israel. Even the missile attack a few days ago which killed 11 Israelis, 9 of them were millitary men.

Sonia, what is your source for the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of Palestinians and Lebanese you allege Israel has killed? I've heard some wild numbers, but never any as obviously fabricated as that one!
By the way, you misspelled my last name.

To T. Rooney,

I'm afraid I don't follow your comment. If you are talking about Samir Kuntar, one of the three Lebanese Hezbollah wanted to exchange the captured Israeli soldiers for, I would you ask you whether you know why he is in prison. If you aren't talking about the captured Israeli soldiers and the 3 imprisoned Lebanese crooks, then I don't know what you are talking about.

Well said, Brian. I'm appalled at what I'm reading here. To the fans of George Galloway, here's a quiz. He had 3 major facts dead wrong in his interview with Sky News. What are they?

I didn't watch his interview on Al Jazeera after the first minute because it sounded like it was going to be a rerun, except for the appeal for funds I understand he made! I wonder if he knows what dhimmitude is, except experientially, that is.

Steve,
Yeah, Hezbollah has been trying to draw Syria into it. As for Iran, your opinion may differ, but I sincerely hope someone does something about Iran before they get nuclear weapons. They have a nutcase at the helm who wants to establish a nice fundamentalist Sunni state stretching westward to Spain.

It isn't possible to understand any of this without understanding Iran's interest in Lebanon, which predates Israel's invasion in 1982 by a decade or so. Martin Kramer actually traces the origins of Hezbollah to prerevolutionary radical Iranian involement in Lebanon during the reform process there. That process, which intended to "unlink" Lebanon from the Arab world among other things, dissolved into the civil war.

the only solution for this problem is that the arab countries stop giving oil to the states and israel cause it is ours , and you will see how immediately the conflict will end

To Brandon and all other Jewish-Canadians,

If you're Canadian, why are you serving in another countries military?

This should not only be made illegal, it should be classified as treason. You can not serve two masters,if you're going to serve in a military and you choose to serve with Israel then relinquish your' citizenship. As Canadians it threatens our national security if we have citizens serving in the military of foreign countries.

The Lebanese-Canadians dont serve in Lebanon military.

No other Arab-Canadians serve on foreign militaries except for Jewish-Canadians.

There is something wrong with this dupilicitousness of serving on the Israeli military and still calling yourself a Canadian.

I dont want canadians of any ethnic group serving on foreign militaries.

To: E.McDonald

Firstly, I encourge my MP and MLA to come to a settlement with the first nations people.

I would like to know if you have travelled to the middle east and have any first hand experience? What research have you done regarding this issue? I welcome your response.

The israeli government has done more then most give them credit for. The "tax" that you refer to is returned to the Palistinian Authority, along with additional aid. The border crossing restrictions only become strict after a bus is blown up and there are body parts all over the place that need to be collected. Israel has provided jobs for many palistinians, again the problem of border crossing when markets are bombed and body parts need to be collected. If you go to Jerusalem and speak with the arab merchants, you will find that they hate the terrorists, there actions inflict on their quality of life. Jerico, which is one of the amazing places in the world, also hates terrorists.

Many arabs are israeli citizens and live side by side in peace in israeli communities.

As for lebanon, there was a deal being worked on until Hezbolla halted it with an act of war. The problem for Hezbolla is that once the issues are settled, they will need to make up new arguements where none are.

And now the Israeli army has decided that expanding their military operation will improve their chances of eliminating Hezbollah? It will only make them stronger.

This is not Iraq or Afganistan...there is no military solution to this conflict except total destruction of one of the two sides...which is incomprehensible. Israel will eventually agree to a ceasefire...the only question is will it be before or after the war has expanded to include the Syria and, God forbid, Iran.

Operation Litani....2nd time around...that is the goal..to control water source and supply. Water in a desert ..more precious than oil.

All who agree and propagate the belief that only some people should be guaranteed the right to live and thrive in their homelands, should first of all, examine this arrogant,racist attitude.

First Nations North and South America were almost exterminated to make way for the select groups of colonizers in control. Was this right, to ensure peace and prosperity for the dominant few?

How can this current display of technological warfare, arms to the max, be right in any way? Violence only begets violence.
Remove dignity and deny basic rights to humans and they become the beasts that are cultivated and driven by fear.

I'm getting rather sick of hearing from those who do not understand the situation and refer to the State of Israel as a terrorist state.

This is a country that came to be after the most horrif chapters in human history... the holicaust. Since Israel birth, they have continued to struggle against hostile neighbours and most recently against Hezbollah, an extreme terrorist group (recognized as such by the Canadian Government and many other countries around the world), who's only mandate is the destruction of Israel. So does Israel have the right to defend themselves... absolutly. Does Israel have to move into Lebanon to do so... unfortunatly... but where is the Lebanese Government in all of this, have they made any attempts to disarm the terrorist that are using their citizens as shields as they terrorize Israel?

So cut the horse**** and lay blame where it lies... Hezbollah, the Lebanese Government for allowing them to opperate and Syria for providing training and weapons.
If

"Since Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, there have been hundreds of violations of the "blue line" between the two countries. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) reports that Israeli aircraft crossed the line "on an almost daily basis" between 2001 and 2003, and "persistently" until 2006. These incursions "caused great concern to the civilian population, particularly low-altitude flights that break the sound barrier over populated areas". On some occasions, Hizbullah tried to shoot them down with anti-aircraft guns.In October 2000, the Israel Defence Forces shot at unarmed Palestinian demonstrators on the border, killing three and wounding 20."

Yes, some of you are right, water is quite the precious comodity in the middle east, however it is not the main reason that Israel occupies the Golan Heights. Having served in the I.D.F I know for a fact having been there that the Golan Heights was used as a platform from which the Syrians launched mortars on Israeli kibbutz. These are not military targets, why should Israel allow Syria to continue this bombardment? As for Sonia from Calgary, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese killed? You might want to check your numbers, and as for the 30% of children, ok well how about the 90% of the Hezbollah kills being innocent civilians?

charles;
syria lost the golan in 1967. you are correct when they had it they used it to fire at Israel. Since then, peace treaties were signed with egypt and they gave back the sinai and later with Jordan which opened the borders and new dialogue of Palestine, somewhat. If you look back since then, Syria tried to do the same with no luck. The shabat farms are Lebanese, and was occupied by Israel during their invasion of lebanon. WHy then when they decided to pull back, they refused to return this part. even if it is Syrian, it is still occupied territory, why keep it and cause more trouble.
I'll tell you why, WATER.....fresh water. Do some research, you'll find all the middle east finds this commodity far more important than even oil.

Charles,
the reason israel won't let go of Golan heights and sheba farms is because they are the only source of fresh water in the region. the reason they are so interrested to go to litani river is the same. Syria already said that Sheba farms is lebanon's territory. In any case, either syrian or lebanese, Israeli souldiers should not be there. Israel as usual is feeding you lies and you are believing them without question.

Laura;

Correct me if I'm wrong, hizballah came to life after Israel invaded south lebanon and occupied it for 18 years. Hamas came out of the struggle for a palestinian state. Fatah was created after the failed arab response to Israel over years. All hate Israel and would like to destroy it. Root cause,....think about it, all these groups and groups before them and groups after them were created by the existence of Israel. Are these people naturally killers and hate jews, come on give me a break. Hatred grows when people are mistreated and pushed to desparate acts.
The only thing this war is creating is more hatred and new groups for future wars. Iran, Syria and let's not forget, the US, all have their own purposes and will continue to use the people in this areas as pawns for their own end gains.
Should Israel exist, i think history has crossed that line by now and we are past this question. The question now is how will it exist. Militarily, with america's help, Israel can destroy the whole middle east, how would you like to live in a neighberhood where all around you is death and destruction. isn't it time to talk. Israel will survive and prosper in the middle east, but only if its leaders focus on talking to their neighbours and put away the stick. Take away the root cause for creating these groups and who knows, maybe no more hatred.

To E. from Winnipeg
How about try this....Our First Nations People decide to take back their land...and it is their "God Given" land...before it was ours. Now, they take the property you and your family have cultivated for generations upon generations...have soldiers at every border crossing to harass Non First Nations People. The Non First Nations people must carry travel documents...which the soldiers pretend you didn't show them. They hold up traffic for hours...and you lose your job and have trouble getting another to feed your family. They harass your women and children going to the market or schools. You are taxed "equally" to the First Nations People, but you don't get any where near the same amenities or rights for your children or yourself...you tell me if that is not going to breed terrorists and guerrillas right here and for generations, until the injustice is acknowledged and stopped. Monitored by mediators who will take them both to task.
And for Larry...try this...if the above situation were to happen in Canada...why can't all those European countries just try and absorb us all back into their populations. I, myself am second generation Irish...but I know for a fact that if all the Irishmen of the world would be "absorbed" back in Ireland...the blessed Island would sink. Or try the impoverished East European countries; you want to try living there? No people should have to leave their land to make way for a people who don't respect the rights of others....Israel needs to acknowledge the rights they give themselves as the rights of others as well...then guess what...terrorism would have nothing left to terrorize....there wouldn't be any more terror.
It suddenly doesn't feel so comfortable if we try walking a mile in those moccasins does it?

Philip K writes: "George Galloway is a leftist extremist who supports suicide bombers"

wow. that is so staggering in its stupidity and transparency that I actually feel sick to my stomach.

Galloway is one of those rare birds: a brave and truthful politician. Unlike the kind we have in Canada.

And what exactly is a 'leftist extremist'? A man who demands rights for ALL people not just jews? A man a demands that ALL people be viewed as equal human beings, not just jews?

Sign me up for that.

Three entries by Laura Finstein? REally? She is so wise as to warrant three entries?Sounds to me like she's only interested in distorting the information to justify Israeli to killing.

Philip K sounds like a complete nutcase,actually he sounds like every other card carrying zionists. He's towing the zionist party line: you're either with Israel or you're a terrorist. Never mind that Israelis a terrorist state.

Philip writes: "Israelis just want to live in peace and don't want to destroy their neighbours"
Yes I can tell from Isreals refusal to accept any and all cease fires and peace treaties.

I can also tell from the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF UNARMED,INNOCENT LEBANESE & PALESTINIANS THEY'VE KILLED.

I can tell that Israel wants peace because it keeps invading its neighbours and stealing they're land and destroying their property.

With neighbours like Israel, who needs enemies.

Israel is a war and killing machine for the Jewish people,nothing more. The Israelis have no moral ground when 30% of their victims are children.

Thanks. I think the human toll of this war needs equal if not more coverage versus the deluge of military and political positioning and analysis that's prevailing across most news outlets.

I'd guess that all parties to this conflict would say they're acting in the best interests of their civilian population, their children's futures... but the borderless State of Childhood seems utterly savaged in now mutually aggressive invitations to kill one another's civilians/children - the very people I'm sure all leaders would say they're acting to protect.

Perhaps if we saw more on the human toll, the impact of this conflict on all affected civilians and the long term projections for those who survive it in terms of physical and mental health - trauma, restoration to routine and former life and how this conflict has shaped their personal opinions - the long-standing grudges and immediate self-interested concerns of all parties to this conflict, the rationalizations for continuing this now utterly disproportionate response & terrifying return volleys, and the stalling of discussions for ceasefire would take a back seat to the lives and interests of children and vulnerable citizens on all sides of this war.

I do not think conflict will end when "they" love "their" children as much as "we" do. I think it will end when everybody - "we" love "all" children as we love our own.

To Anon from Alberta:
Thank you for recommending that video link of the interview with the educated, articulate Arab woman! Very amazing! Who is she? For all the readers of this blog, you should check it out, a unique perspective that we don't hear in Canada.

To:Laura Finsten

By your logic, the British or any Arab state could have captured Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir or any of their cohorts.
The whole Mossad is fair game and the Lebanese or Palestinians could capture Ariel Sharon, "the butcher of Beirut" and refuse to feed him doughnuts and potato chips. They might make him eat cheerios in place of these, you know, torture-lite, unlike the Israelis who are more sophisticated at things like this and go for the no holds barred approach. He is being tube fed isn't he?

Rain, I think you need to fill in a few facts about the last part of your biased post.

The reason Israel won't return the Golan Heights to Syria is because everytime Syria gets their hands on it they use it as a hill-top firing range into Israel. The reason Lebanon won't get the Shebba farms back is because according to the UN they belong to Syria also, not Lebanon.

Jan, I am the last person who cares about being called a racist, xenophobe or anything else.

The difference between North America and Europe (besides the fact that it only took us 250 years to catch and surpass you in all aspects even though you had a 1500+ year headstart) is that instead of just talking, we act.

Even if magically, the parties could agree on a ceasefire and UN Peacekeepers went in, the Europeans would run back home with their tails between their likes usual as soon as they suffered a few casualties.

The UN, and the EU need to let this be handled by someone who will actually take action instead of blow hot air.

Why is Israel allowed to get away with indiscriminate slaughter of civilians? The last I heard, their definition of a terrorist was "anyone in travelling in a vehicle" in a specific area. I suppose a better question would be: why is Israel one of the top recipients of United States foreign aid? In 2003, they received 11 times more aid from the U.S. than the 3 poorest countries combined (and let's not even get into military assistance).

Sam from Winnipeg - what are your sources?

Joelle - kidnapped or captured Israelis

According to what I've read, they can legitimately be considered captured, but they would then have to be treated as POWs. This precludes their being used to barter for the release of non-POWS. Capturing people, military or otherwise, to use as bargain chips is hostage-taking and is against international law.

Hezbollah wants to trade the captured Israelis for Samir Kuntar and 2 other Lebanese imprisoned in Israel. You should look the Kuntar's history on the web and perhaps you will understand why, despite 3 previous similar events since 2000, Israel has refused to release him.

It really simple, people should stop making this complicated. Had Hezbollah never attacked Israel none of this conflict would be happening. Israel is only protecting itself. How would you react if everyday was "September 11, 2001" in your country??? Think about it.

Open your eyes to the real situation

To Rain and others concerned with "root causes".

Listen to Hassan Nasrallah himself! You can do so at www.memri.org. The root cause is Israel's very existence, although he also thinks that all Jews, not merely those in Israel (who, conveniently, he admits, are easier to kill because of their aggregation and proximity), and American aggression. You have to decode the latter, because what he (and his patron, Iranian leader Mahmud Ahmadinejad) mean by that is infidels everywhere. That would be most of you, I expect.

Yara from Montreal, you said it..right on....if only the general public can see how they are the subjects and objects of manipulation through selective education, propaganda and intense public relations - all using FEAR to manipulate mayhem.

Religion and nationalism fixated on fear result in the ugliest and worst kind of existence. War only profits the select few - arms manufacturers and power brokers. Israel is a colonizer fashioned by European colonizers as they did in the "new world" where they were bent on erasing the native population to establish dominance and power.

Religion is only used to justify and erase European guilt for its' horrific war crimes. And, after 2000 years or so.. aren't the current inhabitants of Israel mostly European in culture, habits and ideas? After WW2,why were they not given the right to return to their homes and compensated for the crimes against them?

George Galloway is a leftist extremist who supports suicide bombers. He was also beaten up recently by Islamist supporters of his own party who didn't like women and Muslims voting. He's a fool, a friend to terrorists, and his support for Hezbollah comes as no surprise.

As for Lebanon, the Israelis are right to bomb the genocidal, racist Party of God to smithereens. Once Hezbollah is neutered the legitimate government of Lebanon, representing all Lebanese, not just the Islamic fanatics, can step in and live in peace with Israel. Remember, Islamists like Hezbollah want to destroy Israel. Israelis just want to live in peace and don't want to destroy their neighbours. That makes all the moral difference in the world.

This current conflict has now become the maze with no centre or end. And with so many countries playing the 'backseat driver' the chances of a fair/even resolution to things is next to impossible. I'm optimistic and remain so but too many egos are at play right now and no one wants to be perceived as weak if they're the first to stand down in the face of more aggression. The situation, like someone pointed out earlier is like a sandbox fight: I just don't know how you get two children who don't like each other to get along or at least be civil and not throw things at each other on sight.

To the one who posted the George Galloway video link (http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,31200-galloway_060806,00.html) I just wanted to say thank you!

Although what George said might be a breath of fresh air to those in North America, it's common sense for us Europeans. I can understand that for those living in North America such statements are rare given the biast and manipulated media. That's unfortunate since so many of you (the Americans really) shape your views of the world based on what you see on TV. I think it's very worthwhile that you opened up your mind to the possibility that there's much more to the story than you've been told!

In Europe you can hardly find a single person supportive of what Israel is doing. Even the Germans who traditionally shy away from criticising Israel have started to be more vocal than even their neighbours. As a result of what happened in WWII there was tremendous suffering and unimaginable devastation, but this does not give Israel any right whatsoever to behave in the way it does. As a result of this war public opinion of Israel has changed dramatically. People don't give a damn anymore about the old sympathy pleas that manipulated us in the past into providing our support. Many people are boycotting Israeli products in protest and writing their governments asking them to cut off all aid to Israel.

It's a real shame that more North Americans don't see the reality for what it is. You guys are so terrified of labels that you keep silent. Don't you realize that being called "anti-semite" is the oldest trick in the book? It's used to manipulate and silence any critics of Israel. If you know you're not racist then you shouldn't care about what someone might try to label in order to shut you up. Speak your mind regardless.

Thanks again for the video.

Jan

Comment on the readers discussion: it is important to understand Hezbollah-UN-CBC terminology.

Innocent civilian - anyone who is not a Jew and doesn't support Israel. (One prominent canadian muslim leader explained a while ago on national TV that there are no innocent civilians in Israel).

Occupied territory - any territory occupied by Zionist entity.

Palestine - Gaza, West Bank and all occupied territories.

Peace - world without Jews. And Zionists. And Great Satan. And imperialists. And other infidels.

Now, fellow Canadians, please continue to protest occupation, demand peace and feel good about your superior neutral position.

Interesting how we interpret history. It seems we chose to stop the clock at the time that suits us most. July 12, 2006, Hizballah crossed the line and killed some soldiers and kidnapped two others. Is this when things started, really?? if you do some research you'll likely find this border has been anything but quiet since Israel withdrew. There has been ongoing incursions by both parties for one reason or another. Wiping out hizballah will not work, another group will replace it. The vicious cycle will go on and on until we deal with the root causes, and please don't use what the US says about the region, i'm sure we all remember the stories and lies they used to invade Iraq. Calling hizballah a terrorist group simply reinforces the new US strategy of avoiding to talk to the enemy. Since when does this work? all the might of the war machines will not change reality, it simply delays the inevitable and new generations are born to replace those who died and those who killed. Then we start all over again. Deal with the root causes. History is here to stay and we're just writing another chapter of misery and no matter how we interpret what we see and feel, in the end, history will tell the real story. When did it all start, how, why?
one last thought.Today's reality, how does the money factor into this problem, why did Israel refuse to retreat for Shabat farms after it withdrew from the rest of lebanon. Why the Litani river is important to israel. why israel refuses to withdraw from the Golan heights and sign a peace treaty with syria....

Sandy, I suggest you review the facts!
Israel was kicked out of Lebanon, Hence the reason they are still at war with the country of Lebanon and ultimately Hezbollah.
if it was voluntary as you say, why do they still hold the shebah farms or the map to all the land mines they infested the south of Lebanon with?

Re: Sandy's comments above, I would like to point out that Israel has never VOLUNTARILY withdrew from any grabbed Arab land.

Examples:

- If it were not for Sadat's army crossing the Suez canal and giving Israel a good jolt, one third of Egypt's territory would have still been occupied today. Israel realized that it could no longer hold on to the whole of the Sinia peninsula on the cheap. The Bar Lev line proved futile against and army determine to liberate its land.

- Had it not been for Hezbullah's stubborn restistance against the Israeli previous occupation army in Lebanon , Israel would have never withdrawn from the Lebanese land south of the Litany river. Israel realized at that time that that it could no longer sustain its growing military loses, and withdrew in dissarray abandoning its Lebanese allies ( who , by the way, were well treated despite dire warnings by the Western media)

Again, Israel withdrew fronm Gaza mostly because protecting a few thousand Israeli settlers living on stolen lands (amongst hundreds of thousands of Palastinians subjected to an iron fist occupation) was drainig too much human and material resources. Continuous humiliation and brutalization of the Palastinian population could not silence the resistance. Further, Sharon was worried about the demographics of the Jewish state being disrupted. Incidently, Israel never withdrew from Gaza, it merely redeloyed its settler occupation army and settler population to more strategic areas . The iron fist is still in effect.

Because Syria is so far incapable of mounting an armed attempt to end the occupation, all its calls for a peaceful resolut6ion go unheaded. Can you imagine Israel, as a good will gesture, withdrawing?

By the way, international pressure had nothing to do with the withdrawals as Sandy suggests. She is advised to check out the the numerous resolutions by the international community begging Israel to return land in exchange for peace.

I saw on the news the other day that the Israeli Air Force had bombarded a house with 7 family members in a Lebanese village, and it turned out to be that those 7 members are the family of the Hezbollah soldier that had been captured by the Israeli’s 3 days ago.
I cannot believe that insanity has reached this far, and if you think that insanity has reached the top, you are mistaken, because today I heard the Israeli news and they were saying, that since they have a lot of casualties and injuries, the Israeli Armey is going to flatten south Lebanon, from the border with Israel to the littany river, everything that is standing up in this Area is going to be wiped out. And what is sad about the whole thing, that I cannot believe that the world has become so ignorant once again , it is like we haven’t learn anything from our past wars, every country in this world want to see a ceasefire , and they cannot do anything about it. But why Bush Administration insist to carry on? when enough is enough ,what does it take to end the war ,more killings and destruction from both sides, is that the way that you plan for new middle east , cause certainly that’s not the way , because every boy and girl who lost their family is never going to forgive, and by this , these children are going to grow up angry, and violenley active , Bush Administration are you people smarter than Jesus, Jesus had said love you enemy, and forgive the ones who hurt you. The only people who can stop this war is the American people , I don’t know why they had become so ignorant, please show us that there is a light in the end of the tunnel , show us that there is hope for peace ,and don’t stand still, cause you have the power to Stop this madness.

Imagine if all this passion and work went into trying to stop the tribal war in Congo instead of the tribal war in Palestine.

4,000,000 people have died as a result of fighting in the Congo since the mid 90's and there has been more coverage on the 1,100 Israeli/Lebanese casualties in one day then on the Congolese in past decade.

We are all biased. Our media is biased, our languages are biased, our leaders are biased. Our only hope is that we can overcome our natural biases and stop what we are doing to each other. Based on ranting on this blog, I don't see it happening anytime soon.

The most frightening thing I read recently was a Macleans article on Newt Gingrich...he is quoted as speaking to a Seattle Times journalist that all that is needed to mount a Republican come back in the mid-term elections is to convince the American public that WWIII has begun. Then in the Maclean article written two months later, he quoted as saying WWIII has begun. And this man wants to be the leader of the "civilized" world?

We live in a world where laws, International Laws are supposed to matter.

Israel consistently demonstrates that it is a 'terrorist state'. It should be brought back into line, and back inside its borders.

Israel has shows no intention of returning land to the Palestinians. It takes the water from the aquifers and produces only misery for the original inhabitants. It has been doing this since inception.

Israeli products should be boycotted. The country needs to learn how to live with its neighbours. Only by reducing its cash will this happen.

To E. in Winnipeg:

The US would totally bomb everything and completely destroy Canada's infrastructure, and Canada (and Winnipeg)would become wastelands and you and I and the rest of us would have to go somewhere to live in refugy camps, but who would take us?

Albert Einstein said something to the effect that the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different result. Israel, Palestine, Hezbollah, are all fighting for valid needs of security, land, self-protection. It's the way humans have tried to solve disputes for millenia....and it doesn't work. The only people profiting are the arms manufacturers who are making a fortune from the blood of innocents caught in the violence of war. With the development of modern weapons, we MUST learn to settle our problems in a non-violent way or we will not survive. It's time to put a large part of our military budget into learning how to wage peace and work together.

Patriotism based on fear of the other is the worst kind of patriotism ... it is a weapon politicians use to brainwash people into accepting the disastrous decisions they made.
Israel has to free itself from its myths of victimization and stop using the holocaust as an analogy to everything else. Being a victim does not allow you to become the agressor of another. The fact is Israel is the only nuclear power in the middle-east, has the 4th biggest army in the world, has been invading international borders left and right constantly and is supported by the most powerful country in the world with money from the most successful and best integrated ethnic group in the US: the jewish community. The fact is it only left Gaza so it can redraw the roadmap according to its wishs and has come in and out as it pleased ever since ... the fact is colonies continue to grow, for every home demolished by kityusha rockets, 100s have already been erased by israeli bulldozers. Reality on the ground and the history of israeli tactics and war-making contradicts in every way possible the victim mentality. Israelis should fear Hizbollah ... not because it will eliminate Israel's existence ... because that will never happen. Israel is here to stay, but because for the first time, Israel might be forced to negociate more equitably and accept the fact the to have peace Israel has to give up its zionist ambitions and become a country like any other: that which respects its neighbours and their rights snd their territories. Hizbollah is here to stay. Thanks to Israel's non-existant peace policy, they now have a new much tougher negociating partner to deal with ..

Israel's defense regarding the destruction of Lebanon as collateral damage in the struggle against Hezbollah is utter nonsense. Imagine a wanted criminal has taken shelter in your house and used your family as a shield against the police that has surrounded your house. If the police would follow the same tactic as Israel, they would bomb the house and all of its occupants. If the neighbour's house also gets blown away, well, that was also an accident and they also get an apology. After all, the police had to kill the criminal!
Both sides have to stop this killing! For innocent victims, being attacked by terrorists or by a state that has invaded another country has the same outcome, death, maimed, homeless, displaced!

Perhaps we have forgotten, Israel VOLUNTARILY withdrew out of Gaza and Lebanon not that long ago because of international pressure, pulling their own settlers out with a lot of struggle and heartache.

Anti-Jewish Arabs did not thank them, instead they celebrated a great victory, as if it was something they had accomplished themselves. Then within a short period of time they used these newly turned over areas to attack Israel.

If I was Israeli I'd be mad as heck too. I hope they take it all back and this time, have the guts and tenacity to keep it to safeguard Israeli citizens in the long term.

To John,

You are an anti-Semite and probably not very good a reading comprehension. Just a guess. You said, "The Jews have turned their formidable war machine on an unarmed civilian population and cloaked it with 'hezbollah terrorists' propaganda and then finished off any global disent with whining about the holocaust."
Last I looked, those rockets and missiles headed south from Israel were not launched by garden gnomes with the Monday blues. If my ears and eyes are not completely malfunctioning the 'global dissent' is shouting loud and clear about how the Israelis are "over reacting" to murder, kidnapping and terroism over the years since they have pulled out of Lebanon.
Puuhleeeze!!! Twenty years ago, Hezbollah was just a smal terrorist group, six years ago the Israelis pulled out of Lebanon to be done with a guerilla war. Today, Hezbollah has the means to launch rockets and missiles deep into Israel,...even though has left the Lebanon. What about 5 years from now,...10?
At the same time, imagine what a garden spot Lebanon could have been if the 100 million dollars per year sent to Hewzbollah for weapons would have been used for books, schools, hospitals,...peace. Sadly Hezbollah went looking for an argument where none need exist and found a far larger quarrel than it bargained for. Shame on the Shia of Lebanon, shame on the weak in Lebanon who would not fight Hezbollah's tyranny. Shame!! Shame!!

Check this link and think about what is said here...from Al Jazeera. It will throw a rather different light upon all that is happening in the Middle East. You are likely thinking, oh, yes, an apologist for the Hezbollah and so forth...Not so. Watch and read the translation and THINK about what is said here by this highly educated and very intelligent woman.
http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=null

I am a Christian. I think for the world peace. We should move state of Israel to Canada. We have an enough land to give them. Al my life I worked to them. This is the best way to solve the problem. No one knows where the state of Israel 2000 years ago is. Countries change there name always. Canada is not called Canada 2000 years ago. Killing each other is foolish. We live short time. From peace

I wonder if the supporters of Hezbollah have taken into consideration that various intelligence and research agencies have in past reported that Israel may have up to and in excess of 400 nuclear weapons. Ranging from gravity bombs to ballistic missiles. And those are OLD REPORTS. Who knows what Israel’s nuclear capabilities have increased to since then?
And if they continue to attack a NUCLEAR POWER with the intention to destroy Israel, eventually Israel will consider that the only way to end the continuous death of their children and families is to resort to their powerful arsenal of nuclear weaponry. After all if it comes to a choice between years of death and destruction from terrorists or years of being verbally condemned by the world for nuking innocent lives shielding the terrorists that are attacking them. The choice seems clear. At least they would have the luxury of being alive to hear the world condemning them. And all the while knowing that in the hallways of power throughout the world people would admit that placed in the same situation, they would more then likely do the same thing.
So if Lebanon wants to stop Israel from launching attacks at the Hezbollah attacking them, then Lebanon must do what Israel is doing, Stop Hezbollah from attacking Israel.
Since Hezbollah states that all of Israel’s territory is Lebanese soil. And they won’t stop attacking Israel until they leave Lebanese soil.
How else will this end?
One way or another, Hezbollah will stop attacking Israel. Either by the people of Lebanon taking a stand and stopping Hezbollah. Or by Israel destroying Hezbollah and all around them. And it doesn’t take much to imagine the nuclear buttons having fingers poised over waiting for the order to stop the attacks on Israel.

Understanding Children 101
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This smells like a military "test-bed" for weapons and tactics within the Lebanon region.
Many other countries including Washington, are watching very close as to the capabilities of each side.
Please keep in mind that Hesbolla has been planning the seed of hatred through it's generations of children for many years.
Israel has been doing the same including manufacturing and selling it's weapon systems and tactics for just as long in "Justified" defense.
Both have spent much resources in trying to convince the playground that they are the "justified" ones, and the side to be on....

Time to punish the children and take them out of the sandbox.
Only, at the moment, there seems to be no lunch teacher(s) with the political nards to do it...

Defending one's home from kaytusha missiles and other"primitive weapons" supplied by Syrian and Iran which have been used to attack Israeli civilians in communities such as Kiryat Shimona by Hezbollah well before the outbreak of hostilities in July can hardly be construed as "ignorant comments". The loss of life of innocent Lebanese and Israeli civilians is deplorable on every level. Let us all pray that peace will come to this region and refrain from further inflammatory attacks on the Israeli and Lebanese. My prayers will be with both of these nations.

History is a very interesting thing. Presently we see a conflict in which innocents on both sides are dying. A horrible state of affairs.
That said, let's look at the overall scope of this event. Israel withdrew from Lebanon in the 90's and following that, a UN resolution was created ordering the Lebonese government to disarm Hizbollah. Nothing was done. Over the years they have been left to their own devices and have been armed and trained by Iran and Syria. Now Hizbollah has attacked Israel, killed IDF troops, kidnapping others and fires rockets every day. Based on previous events what did they think the response would be?
The question that should be asked is why now? More importantly, why when Israel offered (2 weeks ago)to cease hostilities with the return of the soldiers and an end to the rocket attacks did Hizbollah refuse? If there is blame to spread then do so fairly. Hizbollah is equally responsible for this event and the deaths of innocents in Lebanon and Israel. They have further stated that they will ignore the present UN ceasfire resolution. I would also say that both Syria and Iran should be held accountable as well.
Before pointing your safe North American finger at Israel answer this question; If terrorists were repeatedly firing rockets (precision or not) at your home or at those in Montreal or Vancouver and killing innocents what would you expect your government to do?

We lucky Canadians can only imagine the horror that is going on in Lebanon and Israel. I'm planning a trip to Israel in the spring of 2008. I pray that this conflict will be just a faded memory by then. The saddest part of it all seems to be the lack of hope - its as though the only ones with hope are the ones farthest away from battle. The Europeans and Americans. Lets "hope" a compromise shows up in the middle east soon.

I am shocked to see some of the comments by my fellow Canadians. How can they, in good concience, say that they hope Hezbollah - a group recognized as a terrorist organization - will stand it's ground and repel Israel - the only democracy in the region. Is Israel's response perhaps too intense? Probably. The United States suffered a single (although undeniably horrible) terrorist attack and on that pretext invaded Afghanistan, an action that was seen as justified by most of the world. Israel suffers constant terrorist attacks from enemies who seek nothing other than her complete destruction, and given that she is only a nation of 5 million people has suffered losses many times greater than those inflicted on September 11. The Lebanese government is powerless to stop Hezbullah. The UN, while usually well-intentioned, will be unable to stop them either. Is Israel to simply sit by and allow the terrorists to act with impunity as they recieve ever-more sophisticated weapons from their Syrian and Iranian benefactors? Hezbollah (and Hamas as well) have no interest in any sort of peace with Israel.

I agree that this war has actually brought out more support for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Even other Arab countries who had disliked Hezbollah are supporting them now. I doubt Israel will be able to drive Hezbollah out. Survival for Hezbollah equates victory. I wonder how long Israel can afford to keep this war going. Israel's economy wasn't very good to begin with and now they are spending millions on this war. I think its just a matter of time before Syria and Iran are dragged into this war. After all this war isn't about Lebanon or Hezbollah its about Iran! That is why Bush and Blair are not pushing for a ceasefire. Bush has had his eyes on Iran for quite some time now.

By the way whoever posted that link to George Gallaway's video thanks for an excellent video!

If Lebanese people want Hizballah to be disarmed and to be free from their occupation and subjugation by Iran, Lebanese need to stop siding with Hizballah against Israel.

Groups like Hizballah attacked across the border into Israel before 1982 unprovoked, and that is why Israel had to step in-- for its own safety.

Israelis are patriotic for IDF because it protects them from total extinction; Lebanese are being "patriotic" for Hizballah-- why?-- because it lets them wage an expansionist war against Israel. These are not equivalent, and Canada cannot afford to be neutral with Hizballah, which is a terrorist group and not a state.

No "protector" of Arabs would be killing civilian children and women in Arab towns in Israel, but Hizballah is doing it now.

If Lebanon wants to end the war, the people and government of Lebanon must choose to exorcise Hizballah permanently, and need to adopt peace instead of war against Israel. There is no other option, and Siniora is in no position to make demands until he gets on the real peace train.

The notion that the current Hezbollah rocket attacks are an existential threat to Israel is ludicrous, and does not justify the dispropotionate response we have seen. So far, Hezbollah losses seem inconsequential compared to the collateral damage to Lebanese infrastructure and the casualties sustained by the civilian population.

Not surprisingly, polls suggest that Israeli actions have caused Lebanese support for Hezbollah to increase dramatically. Aside from the lack of moral justification, Israel's actions are not effective. History illustrates that bombing guerrillas into submission usually ends up strengthening them. The idea that Israel can aerially bombard Lebanon to pressure a weak Lebanese government into disarming Hezbollah is equally silly. Finally, who really thinks some country(s) is willing to commit their own troops to try and peacemake in the region?

There may well be lots of domestic support for Israel's actions now. But, the same was true the last time Israel invaded Lebanon. Unless Israel plans to obliterate the entire population of southern Lebanon, they are going to end back in the same no win insurgency they fought the last time.....

The quagmire is everyone's fault. Israel would be a peaceful country for all but for two things, Arabs who want Israel destroyed and Palestinians who lived in Israel for generations before being chased out by guns and bombs. As this continues who in the Middle East will arise to lead? A moderate set of leaders, or more radicals who want more death? Sunni, Salafi, Shia, Christian, Jewish, Baathist, Wahabist, and more religious and quasi-religious groups fight. When will they all learn that they all ALL Arabs?

Always put your feet in the other mans shoes. Each side has a point of view that can be justified by the actions of the other or through their own spiritual power. But justification aside, its the people who hurt. We breed fear, fear breeds ignorance and ignornance breeds . To both governments, step up and do the right thing. No one is holier, every one has suffered.

One thing - were these soldiers of isreal captured, or kidnapped? I think this is an important distinction, and one that may never be truely known. Yet, it also allows insight into how this situation has many sides, many distinctions, many points of view. It is important to keep the dialogue going, keep it going towards a resolution! War is never the answer people, we say we are trying to bring peace and democracy to this area of the world, bringing in peace with guns is NOT the answer. And one more thing, invading another country, even in search of a possible 'terrorist' group, is not a move towards peace, it is an act of war. (Another topic of perspective, terrorist, or patriot?) No matter what you may believe, no matter whose side you are on if there is such a possibility, Lebanon has been invaded. As a country, her borders have been assulted and her lands occupied by a foreign force. This is not right, this is not the answer. Isreal must stop and pull back, the people of the world must try to work for this and work together with one voice to stop such violence. On all sides, killing innocent people must stop.

Israel tries to cover up the facts that the Israeli soldiers were caught in Lebanon. They also caught Israeli spies and assassins teams working inside Lebanon, this was weeks before the capture of Israeli Soldiers.
But Does Lebanon or Palestine have the same luxiouries as the Israeli's? Not likely the Israeli's come and take who ever they want locking them up without trial.
This is Illegal and we heard today in the UN that Israel has been crossing the Lebanese border daily Flying sorties over Lebanon at will.

We have Israel and the US plus Harper standing up and Calling Hezbollah Terrorists.

Give us a break and your head a shake.

Interesting that so few people grasp just how impotent the Lebanese government is and how big an issue it is in this conflict. In many areas in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah is the de facto power. The official Lebanese government is only a half step away from the total paralysis of the 'central' authority as exists in Afghanistan. Remember just how recently they were considered a totally failed state such as Somalia. This doesn’t get fixed overnight.

No sane person would like to see the killing continue. The basic fact is that Israel has suffered consistent attacks from Hezbollah based in southern Lebanon and they are acting to end it. The tragedy is that with Hezbollah firmly dispersed within the Lebanese communities there is no pinpoint target to attack without tragic results.

To those who support Israel a question: how can Israeli security be permanently fixed without working directly with the Lebanese government? Armed actions are transitory events.

To those who lament for the Lebanese victims of Israeli attacks another question: Do you expect the Israeli people to simply absorb attack after attack without taking action when the legal government of the state from which the attacks originate is unable to stop them?

Substitute any other two countries for Lebanon and Israel and try to forget the issue of Palestine and Israel. Too many wrongs and blood have been shed in the past on both sides. It doesn't matter how they got to today. What matters is what happens tomorrow. You can't change the history of the conflict so don't waste your breath. There is evil enough for all to share the blame.

Imagine this,

A group of armed terrorist set up in southern alberta shoot rockets over the border at the usa for a period of six years. The canadian government does nothing in response. The UN tells canada to disarm these terrorists, but canada's army is too weak, and the government is not willing to do anything about it, they stall the UN. The UN obersevers inform Annan that the situation is bad but he ignores them. The UN obeserver writes to ctv.ca to inform them that the terrorists have taken over their post, but no response. Finally the straw that broke the cammels back, the terrorists cross the border, grab some soldiers, and want to trade them for a serial killer. What do you the usa would do?

Everyone's a pacifist right up until war breaks out, and then they can't wait to get a piece of the action. The same patriotism shows up in any nation at war, and each side points out the opponent's patriotism as an excuse for indiscriminate killing. I wish people could learn to recognize this pattern and rise above it.

Dear Larry, what were you doing in Lebanon in 1966? Did you stay there long enough to perhaps shake off some of the ignorance you seem to display very well?

We need more people Like george galloway in this world. He obviously knows what he is talking about and has really inspired me. So I would like to share this link with all of you, and then maybe we can argue...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,31200-galloway_060806,00.html

Unfortunately, fear of one’s destruction, something that the Holocaust pushed deeply into Israeli culture, can be used to justify almost anything in the name of survival. Just having returned from Israel, I saw the way the high civilian death toll in Lebanon was justified under the phrase "hiding behind civilians" and how little consideration was being given to the long-term effects of the destruction of infrastructure and the hatred that this would create.

Hezbollah, with its relatively primitive rockets, is not a threat to the existence of Israel. But as with the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, there exists a feeling that one's right to be free from attacks trumps all other parties' rights. This, combined with a belief that there exists a military solution to the problem (if only enough force is used), leads many people to support a course of action that they would otherwise protest.

I'm sorry, but the Israelis are way out of line. This whole "terrorist/terrorism" thing is way blown out of proportion.

I hope that Hezbollah stands its ground, not so much with the killing of Iraeli civilians, but by not letting Israel drive them out of Lebannon.

But this whole problem started when the United States started giving weapons to Israel, thats when they decide they have the right to kill others for the benefit of themselves.

I appreciate your reports from the Middle East Adrienne.

If you see Orna Shimoni again, please tell her that Canada is also a country for Jews, one where they would be much safer than in Israel.

My Jewish mother told me that two wrongs do not make a right. While the UN Charter talks about the right to self-defence, it also talks about a proportional response to an attack. Please tell Orna that destroying Lebanon is not a proportional response to the kidnapping of two members of Tsahal.

I appreciate the risks you and other Canadian correspondants take every day to bring us news from a Canadian point of view.

I can't recall a single Israeli interviewed by the CBC who disagrees with the Israeli government's assault on Gaza and Lebanon or is calling for an immediate ceasefire.

But I know from having volunteered in Palestine for 3 years that Israelis with those viewpoints do exist.

Is there a reason why the CBC correspondants in Israel are not speaking with these Israelis on camera or quoting them in articles?

Even the Israeli media is reporting on the protests in Tel Aviv organized by Israeli peace groups like Gush Shalom, Ta'ayush and Anarchists Against the Wall.

Adrianne spoke with one member of the disbanded Four Mothers movement. I encourage Canadians to read reports from Israeli newspapers of other interviews with other members:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/743695.html
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3282004,00.html

Or how about CBC doing an interview with an Israeli reservist soldier who is refusing to serve in the military invasions of Gaza and Lebanon?
http://yeshgvul.org/articles_e.asp?id=e09b4b53acd1ab5dac34481c057373d8

The important subject should not be the wave of Israeli patriotism but, instead, the surge of Lebanese patriotic unity. Lebanon, a naturally divisive society, seems to have been united in this war. This national Lebanese sentiment has been transformed into a sentiment of support for Hezbollah, generally disliked by most Lebanese, which has spread throughout the Arab world. Mr. Olmert and the Israeli government need to learn from past Israeli mistakes and stop strengthening their enemies, in this case Hezbollah, if they have a chance of being successful.

The Israelis are not 'drawn back to Lebanon', they bulldozed in with guns and tanks and missiles blazing.

The only holocaust happening is the one the Israelis are committing against the Lebanese and the Palestinians. Its truly insulting to my intellegence and that of the world when Israelis and Jewry claim they're preventing a future holocaust when it is them with ALL the guns, tanks, helicpoters, war planes, missiles and biological warfare...not to mention nuclear weapons.

The Jews have turned their formidable war machine on an unarmed civilian population and cloaked it with 'hezbollah terrorists' propaganda and then finished off any global disent with whining about the holocaust. What do you take us for, complete idiots?

The world knows what you're doing: you are invading a sovereign nation, stealing their land and resources and killing they're innocent men, women and children as they flee from Israeli bombing.

Israel is a global threat to security and as a Canadian I want them disarmed and tried for war crimes and forced to pay war reparations for the destruction of property and civilian infrastructure.

Jews have homes in every nation on earth, this false pretense that the jews are homeless is the Big Lie that built Israel. We have jews in Canada and they're just fine; matter of fact they're currently meeting across the country to organize to further their jewish causese here and abroad. There are jews in the US and they're the single most powerful group of peoples in America, so they're fine too. There are jews in Europ, Africa, Iran , Syria and they're all just fine.

What about the Lebanes & Palestinians of all religions living under the tyrany of Israel? They are not fine.

This is really interesting - I had no idea grassroots Israeli support for this new invasion of Lebanon was so firm. I wish I could understand why people on both sides of this conflict let their anger get to a point where they thought it was justifiable to kill other human beings for their cause.

It's said that if you want peace, work for justice.

All parties in this conflict have been wronged, and have wronged the others, countless times. Ultimately, where are any of them going to go? If they don't share the region, they will be at war forever. It's their choice.

: Israel certainly has a right to defend itself, but no state has the right to "defend" occupied territories. When the World Court condemned Israel's "separation wall," even a US Justice, Judge Buergenthal, declared that any part of it built to defend Israeli settlements is "ipso facto in violation of international humanitarian law," because the settlements themselves are illegal.

Lebanese front, you speak as if your government was winning this war, the longer the war continues the more damage Lebanon will suffer. The damage to Israel is minimal, the damage to Lebanon is debilitating.

The only hope for your country is to drive Hezbollah out, create a viable democracy that treats all groups in Lebanon equally, make peace with Israel and sign a free trade agreement with Israel.

If that happens, Lebanon will be the envy of th Arab world in 20 years. However, if your convictions are so strong you are willing to take 20-30-40 times the punishment you dish out, then your making your own bed have fun sleeping in it!

to larry pretty
how easy it is for you to say that if only the surrounding arab countries absorbed the palestinians. But why should they? why can't the palestinians live in their own homes, where they have been living for thousands of years? aah, the israelis have occupied their homes and threw them out, thats why they couldnot go back. How can you say that israelis are not at fault? Let me ask you would you give your house to the isralis and let them control it? let them tax you for living in your own house? let them set the rules when and where you can go in your own house? and their friends call you a terrorist if you said no? don't invoke lords name for injustice. He hates the aggressors. And you will see who he will support.

I find the comments of the Israelis in this article more than a little disturbing. There are innocents all over Lebanon that are being traumatized by the current conflict. I do not understand the precept by which the Israeli government is operating. Nor do can I comprehend why ordinary Israelis' are in support of such an obvious overreaction to the kidnapping of soldiers. Not that kidnapping is acceptable, because it is not. But I fail to see how killing thousands of Lebanese civilians, who have nothing whatever to do with Hezbollah, is going to improve relations between Israel and the rest of the countries in the fertile crescent. War can not make peace, hate can not create love.

A previous comment states that the Lebanese consider Israel an enemy from past experiences.

What has the Lebanese Government done to promote peace? Allow a violent terrorist organization to park itself on the border with Israel; allow massive amounts of weaponry to pass into its territory from a country that vows Israel's destruction?

What has it done to ease the situation with regard to Palestinian refugees living on its territory? Nothing. Third generation Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon are are still denied categories of employment etc., in spite of longtime protests on this question.

And the Lebanese Government continues to refuse to recognize the right of existence of the State of Israel.

It's time for the Government of Lebanon and the people of Lebanon to stop dreaming in technicolour.

The answer for both Israel and the Arab nations, especially Lebanon, is a continued program of promotion of peace.

The Israelis have a unalienable right to defend themselves and root out those who would murder them and their children. I was in Lebanon in 1966 and recall speaking to a Palestinian who managed the youth hostel in Beirut. He was angry at the Lebanese whom he said would not let their children go to Lebanese schools, nor have citizenship, nor have decent jobs. All the arab countries surrounding Israel (called occupied Palestine in those days)treated the Palestinians in the same manner. They could have each taken a number of the Palestinians in each year as immigrants like we do in Canada. Over the years they would have absorbed all the Palestinians and there would now be no problem. The neighbouring countries by their short sighted, hateful intolerance have created this current situation of terrorism and now try to lay the blame at the door of the Israelis. Lebanon is receiving part of the harvest due to them in this current fighting. I find no fault in the Israelis response to Hezbollah and Hamas attacks on their country. May the Lord prosper them in their battle against these infidels.

I think that the israeli government must endorse the seniora government plan for the future security of israel. srael must understand that the majority of the lebanese are for the disrmaning hizballah but at the same time they consider israel as an enemy an agrressor from past experiences. Israel can not and will not and shall never defeat the lebanese state. They failed in 1982, 2000 and they are failing now. Olmert is no in a position the change the lebanese government proposal, he must accept it as is or the war will continue. As a lebanese i want hizballah to disarm and i want the shia community to become moderate but israel is not helping us do that. I just hope a final solution comes out of it and israel finally realizes that You can implement everything by force.
free lebanon