War Crimes
Israel HAS to stop the killing of civilians NOW. Hundreds of innocent people are dying because of Israel's shredding machine. These are war crimes that cannot go unpunished.
The Human Rights Watch report on the killing of Lebanese civilians is clear: "The pattern of attacks in more than 20 cases investigated by Human Rights Watch researchers in Lebanon indicates that the the failures cannot be dismissed as mere accidents and cannot be blamed on wrongful Hezbollah practices. In some cases, these attacks constitute war crimes," stated the 50-page report.
The report, called Fatal Strikes: Israel’s Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon, analyzed almost two dozen cases of Israeli air and artillery attacks on civilian homes and vehicles. Of the 153 dead civilians named in the report, 63 are children. “The pattern of attacks shows the Israeli military’s disturbing disregard for the lives of Lebanese civilians,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “Our research shows that Israel’s claim that Hezbollah fighters are hiding among civilians does not explain, let alone justify, Israel’s indiscriminate warfare.”
The Israeli government has blamed Hezbollah for the high civilian casualty toll in Lebanon, insisting that Hezbollah fighters have hidden themselves and their weapons among the civilian population. However, in none of the cases of civilian deaths documented in the report is there evidence to suggest that Hezbollah was operating in or around the area during or prior to the attack. “Hezbollah fighters must not hide behind civilians – that’s an absolute – but the image that Israel has promoted of such shielding as the cause of so high a civilian death toll is wrong,” Roth said. “In the many cases of civilian deaths examined by Human Rights Watch, the location of Hezbollah troops and arms had nothing to do with the deaths because there was no Hezbollah around.”
Statements from Israeli government officials and military leaders suggest that, at the very least, the IDF has blurred the distinction between civilians and combatants, arguing that only people associated with Hezbollah remain in southern Lebanon, so all are legitimate targets of attack. Under international law, however, only civilians directly participating in hostilities lose their immunity from attack. Many civilians have been unable to flee because they are sick, wounded, do not have the means to leave or are providing essential civil services. Many civilians are afraid to leave the south because the roads are under Israeli attack. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have fled their homes, but Israeli forces have fired with warplanes and artillery on dozens of civilian vehicles, many flying white flags. Israel has justified its attacks on roads by citing the need to target Hezbollah fighters moving arms and block their transport routes. However, none of the evidence gathered by Human Rights Watch or reported to date by independent media sources indicate that any of the attacks on vehicles documented in the report resulted in Hezbollah casualties or the destruction of weapons. Rather, the attacks have killed and wounded civilians who were fleeing their homes after the IDF issued instructions to evacuate.
Human Rights Watch urges Israel to immediately end indiscriminate attacks and distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants. Human Rights Watch also calls on the United States to immediately suspend transfers of arms, ammunition, and other materiel credibly alleged to have been used in violation of international humanitarian law in Lebanon, until these violations cease. Human Rights Watch further asks the Secretary-General of the United Nations to establish an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate reports of such violations, including possible war crimes, and to formulate recommendations with a view to holding accountable those who violated the law. That commission should examine both Israeli attacks in Lebanon and Hezbollah attacks in Israel.
Killing of Three Civilians and Wounding of Fourteen Fleeing Kafra, July 23
Heavy Israeli bombardments in Kafra had trapped fifty members of the extended Shaita family in a single home since the beginning of the war. Running out of food, the family decided to leave the village after hearing the evacuation orders from the IDF. On July 21, the family contacted the Red Cross for assistance with evacuation, but the Red Cross was unable to reach the village. On July 22, thirty-two family members, including most of the children present in the house, packed into a jeep and two cars, leaving seventeen family members behind without transportation. The first convoy made it safely to Tyre.
On July 23, the remaining family members convinced a taxi driver to take them to Tyre in a van, paying $1,000 for the drive. The family waved a large white flag outside the van, and many of the family members were holding smaller white cloths, to indicate their civilian status.
As the van left Kafra, it was hit by an Israeli strike. Musbah Shaita, a member of the family who was sitting next to the driver but survived, told Human Rights Watch: “I heard a noise like a blown tire, and the van started swerving. I told the driver to slow down the car, and he said, ‘we’ve been hit!' The van stopped, and the driver and I got out. As the driver was calling on me to help get the wounded out, a second missile hit the car.”
Three persons died in the strike: Nazira Shaita, about 70; her son Mohammed Amin Shaita, 53; and the family’s Syrian janitor, Zakwan [family name unknown], in his mid-forties. Their bodies remained in the vehicle, because recovery teams could not reach the area for days after the incident. The fourteen other family members were wounded, many of them severely.
According to Musbhah Shaita, “when we were hit, there was no one around—no resistance [Hezbollah], nothing. The only person we saw on the road before was a wounded driver by the side of the road, asking for help.”
For more of these horrific accounts, click here
The Human Rights Watch report on the killing of Lebanese civilians is clear: "The pattern of attacks in more than 20 cases investigated by Human Rights Watch researchers in Lebanon indicates that the the failures cannot be dismissed as mere accidents and cannot be blamed on wrongful Hezbollah practices. In some cases, these attacks constitute war crimes," stated the 50-page report.
The report, called Fatal Strikes: Israel’s Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon, analyzed almost two dozen cases of Israeli air and artillery attacks on civilian homes and vehicles. Of the 153 dead civilians named in the report, 63 are children. “The pattern of attacks shows the Israeli military’s disturbing disregard for the lives of Lebanese civilians,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “Our research shows that Israel’s claim that Hezbollah fighters are hiding among civilians does not explain, let alone justify, Israel’s indiscriminate warfare.”
The Israeli government has blamed Hezbollah for the high civilian casualty toll in Lebanon, insisting that Hezbollah fighters have hidden themselves and their weapons among the civilian population. However, in none of the cases of civilian deaths documented in the report is there evidence to suggest that Hezbollah was operating in or around the area during or prior to the attack. “Hezbollah fighters must not hide behind civilians – that’s an absolute – but the image that Israel has promoted of such shielding as the cause of so high a civilian death toll is wrong,” Roth said. “In the many cases of civilian deaths examined by Human Rights Watch, the location of Hezbollah troops and arms had nothing to do with the deaths because there was no Hezbollah around.”
Statements from Israeli government officials and military leaders suggest that, at the very least, the IDF has blurred the distinction between civilians and combatants, arguing that only people associated with Hezbollah remain in southern Lebanon, so all are legitimate targets of attack. Under international law, however, only civilians directly participating in hostilities lose their immunity from attack. Many civilians have been unable to flee because they are sick, wounded, do not have the means to leave or are providing essential civil services. Many civilians are afraid to leave the south because the roads are under Israeli attack. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have fled their homes, but Israeli forces have fired with warplanes and artillery on dozens of civilian vehicles, many flying white flags. Israel has justified its attacks on roads by citing the need to target Hezbollah fighters moving arms and block their transport routes. However, none of the evidence gathered by Human Rights Watch or reported to date by independent media sources indicate that any of the attacks on vehicles documented in the report resulted in Hezbollah casualties or the destruction of weapons. Rather, the attacks have killed and wounded civilians who were fleeing their homes after the IDF issued instructions to evacuate.
Human Rights Watch urges Israel to immediately end indiscriminate attacks and distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants. Human Rights Watch also calls on the United States to immediately suspend transfers of arms, ammunition, and other materiel credibly alleged to have been used in violation of international humanitarian law in Lebanon, until these violations cease. Human Rights Watch further asks the Secretary-General of the United Nations to establish an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate reports of such violations, including possible war crimes, and to formulate recommendations with a view to holding accountable those who violated the law. That commission should examine both Israeli attacks in Lebanon and Hezbollah attacks in Israel.
Killing of Three Civilians and Wounding of Fourteen Fleeing Kafra, July 23
Heavy Israeli bombardments in Kafra had trapped fifty members of the extended Shaita family in a single home since the beginning of the war. Running out of food, the family decided to leave the village after hearing the evacuation orders from the IDF. On July 21, the family contacted the Red Cross for assistance with evacuation, but the Red Cross was unable to reach the village. On July 22, thirty-two family members, including most of the children present in the house, packed into a jeep and two cars, leaving seventeen family members behind without transportation. The first convoy made it safely to Tyre.
On July 23, the remaining family members convinced a taxi driver to take them to Tyre in a van, paying $1,000 for the drive. The family waved a large white flag outside the van, and many of the family members were holding smaller white cloths, to indicate their civilian status.
As the van left Kafra, it was hit by an Israeli strike. Musbah Shaita, a member of the family who was sitting next to the driver but survived, told Human Rights Watch: “I heard a noise like a blown tire, and the van started swerving. I told the driver to slow down the car, and he said, ‘we’ve been hit!' The van stopped, and the driver and I got out. As the driver was calling on me to help get the wounded out, a second missile hit the car.”
Three persons died in the strike: Nazira Shaita, about 70; her son Mohammed Amin Shaita, 53; and the family’s Syrian janitor, Zakwan [family name unknown], in his mid-forties. Their bodies remained in the vehicle, because recovery teams could not reach the area for days after the incident. The fourteen other family members were wounded, many of them severely.
According to Musbhah Shaita, “when we were hit, there was no one around—no resistance [Hezbollah], nothing. The only person we saw on the road before was a wounded driver by the side of the road, asking for help.”
For more of these horrific accounts, click here
posted by beirutlive at 1:07 PM
56 Comments:
what utter rubbish and distorted "facts" you can believe whatever you like. I think Israel should also sue Lebanon for all the distruction and killing its land and its freedom fighters have inflicted on Israelis.
what lovely propaganda on this blog, no reality and no facts what so ever, seems like the editors of this propaganda blog finds it easier to talk the talk in support of IRAN and the freedom fighters as you fear for your lives after this conflict will stop.
shame on you......
as usual it seems above cannot deal with the truth, a usual problem for zionists who believe that only their facts are the correct ones
can i remind you that everything on this site is based on facts, quotes and comments made by the news, media and members of the international community.
The only "utter rubbish" is your comment i'm afraid.
No one is happy with whats going on in lebanon or israel - and unlike you i'm sorry for the deaths of people from your country and the suffering inflicted upon it, and i'm especially sorry for lebanon's suffering - the attacks in lebanon are unimaginable, the death toll is horrible.
But instead of attacking peoples point of views and their right to express what they are experiencing, maybe you can show a little diplomacy [something you seem to lack] and write something which can be of use. If you disagree with whats here - then share your opposing opinion instead of being so aggressive and dismissive.
It's people like you and people who have a similar mentality that can allow a situation to escalate into what it has become now.
get over it.
we all want peace - this is enough.
What the hell is a Zionist anyway? ...I am agnostic as far as religion goes, but I keep getting called a zionist?
From being on this site a few days now, I get the feeling the owners of the blog aren't so much for Hezbollah as they are against Isreals actions.... and they are for Lebanon.
Hezbollah is doing the same thing as far as firing into civilian areas, they just have crap weapons and aren't killing anybody.
If you read this report about Israeli "war crimes" all it says is that they saw places that were destroyed and they couldn't see any evidence Hezbollah had been there.
This is proof of "war crimes"????
A war crime is when a civilian is deliberately targeted. For example, if the IDF decides they are going to get civilians out of Tyre by bombing indiscriminately. There is no evidence that this is what Israel is doing. How does HRW not know that these targets were bombed in good faith, or maybe the Hezbollah removed any trace of their presence before they got to the sites of destruction?
Perhaps you would like to make a post about the Lebanese war crimes - you know the targeting of civilian places, hospitals etc. by Hezbollah. Had Siniora fired Hezbollah from the govt of Lebanon? No. Has the Lebanese army been helping Hezbollah? Yes. So when do we see Lebanon in the dock for war crimes?
Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.
We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice.
We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable.
We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.
We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.
As administrators of this blog, our sole intention is to bring up facts, and on the gound reporting. This report has been independently published by the HRW and I promise we paid them nothing and twisted no ones arm to write what they wrote. HRW has proof behind what it is saying. Israel has directly targeted civilians waving white flags.
You say the following: "If you read this report about Israeli "war crimes" all it says is that they saw places that were destroyed and they couldn't see any evidence Hezbollah had been there. This is proof of "war crimes"????
A war crime is when a civilian is deliberately targeted."
What do you call attacking civilian cars? What do you call 800 people dead? A destroyed place?
lebanon is not a country governed by one religion.. i'm sorry we failed to be nazis but israel is doing well in that department by buliding its state only on hatered and religion... we are the most intertwined society and yet more varried than any others... to those warning us of becomming an islamic state i ask them did they warn the israelies when they were giving birth to their jewish state?
to israelies:
start with democratizing yourselves and then advise the lebanese on what to do. You stole a whole country evicted its people masecured them. your state was born through masecures. a history of killing is in your blood from jesus till kaa today in the bikaa valey. wake up and see your reality 90% of your prime ministers have been from the military what a coinsidence to promote peace? dont think so...
your media is monitored to make you brain dead they dont want you to think they want you to follow.. is it possible that hizballa havent hit a single military post... hmmm a group that organized can only hit hospitals they want to kill the people that cant lift a finger they dont care to make dents in the israely army... come on wake up
Hezbollah rockets can't even be aimed...you just launch in a direction and hope it hits something. I assume if they could, they would have done more damage.
Isreal has a past, and so does every country, but this is now...2006, not the time of Jesus or whenever.
Here's a secret...here in the U.S. I do not infact own a slave or cotton farm...guess why? Because that was a long time ago...who cares what people 100 or 1000 years ago did? We live now in 2006.
MRTEZ (btw nice Picture) - so you say ...
"...What do you call attacking civilian cars? What do you call 800 people dead? A destroyed place?"
these civilian cars cary arms and HZ soldiers.
800 people dead is very much disputable... example when Quana horrific event happenned you and half the arab media used the momentum to spread more hate by inflating the number of dead bodies etc... however now its confirmed: 28 dead!!!! not 57 like you said in your 'factual' blog. more like ficticious as it pleases you.
as I said before you choose selectivly what to publish here, I understand why, its your choice today.... you may not have any choice when IRAN rules your country fully!
you need to choose your words carefully, I understand why you prefer to publish anti-israeli 'facts' and hate propaganda... its safer as an editor living in Beirut, its easier on the eye and ear to do that.
fack! where is it confirmed that it is only 28 dead from Qana buba?
how do you know these cars waving white flags indeed carried weapons? did you visit the site? did you shoot the missile? where you in the car?
to be fair, i dont either. but i just read a report, published by an independent US-based group, stating that hundreds of civilians are killed unjustly, even though they are waving white flags...
and lets even say that 800 killed, as you state, is disputable...would 500 dead make you happy then? maybe 400? how about 300 innocent people? please show me some independent reports that state the contrary...please show me facts that prove to me that hizbullah 'cleaned' a destroyed site from weapons...
and please tell me how many innocent lives do you need for you to start saying its a crime or its unacceptable what israel is doing...is it 20,000 or 1 million?
please show me something from an independent source and i ask you to understand that its probably the most horrific thing to see all these innocent and children die...these people have nothing in their lives but their family and their life...there are no sirens to warn them of an attack, and no bomb shelters to hide in, simply unprotected basements.
I do not think it was a belittlement of the situation of civilian deaths, but more a questioning of the accuracy of any wartime stats.
In a case like this where Hezbollah is not an actual military, and DO fight not from tanks or bases, but from civilian sites, these things should be questioned I suppose.
Hezbollah could actually claim everytime one of it's fighters died that it was a civilian.
There are rules of engagement that determine war crimes, and this is the EXACT REASON why groups like Hezbollah can not exist. Fighting needs to be done by a countries military and decisions made by the government. And yes, true militaries are easily visible and wear uniforms, and this is honor...it's very easy to wear no uniform and fight. In this case, you bring civilian death tolls up because you purposefully confuse the boundaries of military and civilian as an advantage.
There are no military bases to bomb, only makeshift bases Hezbollah uses, no huge military compounds, they use office buildings, houses, etc...it's been said they have rockets hidden 150 feet underground under homes...so yeah, they only way to even fight them is to hit homes and buildings believed to house arsonals...
Isreal hit a bunch of farmers today who were loading up some food I just read. Perhaps they were feeding Hezbollah who is 6 miles away? But damn, they really need to cool down a bit with what they hit.
They have support to hit Hezbollah, but surely not to hit everything with no reason..perhaps it is because this area was isolated by previous bombings, and the Hezbollah stronghold nearby is the only destination for the food? who knows, but it will of course give more reason for outcry.
hey man what do you suggest that Israel asks these men - hello men... are you supporters of HZ ? are you loading food to keep them going and fightong launching mor eattacks on Israeli towns? then these men say oh no no we are Lebanease we dont support Hezbullah we support Lebanon.. then Israel will say ok we wont kill you then??
in this war if these men are stupid to load heavy stuff onto trucks close bye to the Syrian borders then I suspect it was in support of the Irani HZ fighters... hence this hitting was justified.
anyway we will never know the truth as the local media no doubt will distort it for sure.
ciao baby.
Really in all of this all of you who question the fact that 800 plus people are dead who are children just shows the fucking denial of all of who live in a fantasy world spending your time looking for excuses. Civilians are dead - instead of trying to find excuses understand simply that they are dead becasue ISraeli/american bombs hit them. all u want to do is try to assuage your consciences. What utter bullshit.
"What the hell is a Zionist anyway? ...I am agnostic as far as religion goes, but I keep getting called a zionist?"
You really ought to know at least what a Zionist is if you're going to talk about Israel from either side. Hint: it's not religion
What Israel is doing is wrong. Period. If the idea is to put a strengthened and better trained Lebanese Army in the South to rid the country of Hezbollah, there was no need to destroy the airport, the infrastructure or the homes. Or kill all the civilians. You even say they use "crap weapons and aren't killing anybody." Then why is Israel using its superweapons to destroy the country? Israel's only justification for any of what it's doing is that "might makes right." It has committed war crimes, it has not complied with many serious UN Resolutions while using the failure to comply with resolutions as an excuse for its atrocious perversions of "civilized" warfare. It - and many posters - says the Hezbollah are "cowards" who "hide" and shoot at Israel from hiding. But Israel fires rockets and drops bombs from many miles away and many miles up in the sky at an "enemy" who has only "crap weapons" that can't even be aimed.
A "civilized" country - and the US clearly is not one - would figure out some way to handle this situation short of absolute destruction, unlimited deaths and the infliction of unimaginable misery. Israeli's are supposed to be - and claim to be - both religious and smart. Their artillery gunners pull the lanyards with prayer shawls around their shoulders. Do you suggest that a smart, religious, righteous, god fearing, "good" people can't figure out how to live with others without simply killing them? No matter what the others say about Israel or no matter how much the others hate Israel. To say so means the only answer is more might - so, when do the nukes start falling on Syria and Iran?
Lot of anonymous posters here.
Why not accept the terms offered. Give u pthe two soldiers and dissarm the terrorists? Then the madness can stop, peace might be obtainable.
I'm not Jewish just a person who can't see why you wouldn't let them go unless you all ready killed them and are affraid to face the complete Israeli army when they get really mad.
Sorry not anonymous, Sam
All are idiots without morals, without brains, without "khala2".
what if HZ decides to occupy other parts of beirut, then does that give israel a right to slaughter everyone while trying to "disarm" HZ? you will never "disarm" them because you have already armed the next generation with hate.
its all a waste of energy and life with no purpose. nobody is listening.
"so, when do the nukes start falling on Syria and Iran?"
Not soon enough.
I am almost to the point I am so sick of hearing about how the US and Isreal suck and should die, and how we will all be taught a lesson and slaughtered like evil pigs that I say...to the muslims, I say let's get the holy war on the road...bring it. This should be pretty embarrassing for you, but finally, just like the muslims there think peace will only come when Isreal is dead, why don't I take the opinion that the WORLD will find peace when all muslims are dead. What a joke calling us on all the time....lets go then...attack America hard all of you...with something big so we can get this over with already.
Well - good. We're getting somewhere now. I assume you mean, though, that Israel and the US will come to the war on foot?
Why not try something different instead of words like you use or the prime minister of Israel uses ("we're going to turn the clock back twenty years in Beirut") Why not trick the Syrians at their own game and offer humanitarian assistance? Why not use some of the energy and equipment and money used to blow things up and kill people to make things better? Of course not everyone will agree. But not everyone agrees with killing and maiming and destroying either. But might it not be better to give the adversary some hope? Rather than, as in Palestine, continue to bomb the rubble into dust? What possible harm could result from building a hospital? Or apartments? Instead of bombing hovels? Isn't it worth at least a try to make the "terrorists" irrelevant rather than making them heroes to the people made miserable by the bombing?
You talk without sense - just like George Bush: "bring it on." This "war" cannot possibly be "won" by either side. All that can come of it is to harden feelings and intensify the mutual hate. American and Israel say we can use God-like weapons of destruction launched from miles away to cause enormous destruction and many deaths. Hezbollah and Al Quaeda and the others say "Allah is on our side so we will perservere and kill some of you along the way." But those - on both sides - are the pumped up, egotistical idiots who have usurped control. All the people want is to live in peace. So - shouldn't intelligent people be able to make peace? Without atomic bombs and missiles and rockets and swords and knives? We are able to rain death from the sky without danger to the death dealer. Just like God. Shouldn't we be able to turn the intelligence that creates such weapons to figuring out how to make peace?
I am just mad today, this stuff really gets to me...all I ever hear is how we are trying to start some world domination or something. OTHER countries are burning our flag and spuing hate, here we burn no other countries flag and give more money to those in need than anyone, but people demand more at the same time they curse our existence and remind us we are evil pigs they will gut .
Do I really need to get a list together to show everything America has done other than fight in the world? How much money and effort we have given?
Of course the US has done a lot of good (along with the bad). However, it has the potential to do so much more that it does, that causes many to be frustrated with its actions.
And regarding the HRW issue. HRW has also accused Hezbollah of war crimes. I simply cannot see how they are anything but objective.
You have a lengthy account of the bombings of Lebanon, but I don't see any mention of the attacks on Israel. Think about who started the problem. It was Hezbollah, and Hezbolla needs to be destroyed. If you have given them your consent to live among you and operate as terrorists, it should be no surprise when others retaliate.
I do not sympathize with terror supporters.
This all started with the hebollah kidnapping Israeli army personnel. If they would have stayed on their own side of the border everything would have been fine. I say GO GET EM ISRAEL!!!!
As far as the blood of innocents, the deaths occurred as the result of Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is evil.
Supporters of Hezbollah are the ones in denial as to the nature of Hezbollah.
I hate to see innocent people killed. It should not happen, but that is the nature of war. It is said that Israel is being indisciminate in its attacks. Tell the Hezbollah cowards to stop hiding behind women and children, and less innocents would be killed. The world is lucky that Israel is NOT being indisciminate.
I would not spend one dime on the rebuilding of Lebanon.
I will not support any U.S. aid for such activity.
Let your Hezbollah allies give that to you after their "victory".
Sure other countries are burning the flag and spewing hate and worse. Because we are supposed to be the good guys. Because we're supposed to be the leader. Because "yes - but what did you do for me THIS week?" I remember being in Europe and the far east and feeling completely safe - no one would attack and American. What happened? I can't accept that everybody else in the world changed but us. What's happened, I think, is that it's too easy to impose our will rather than convince people to follow. We can blow things up from a thousand miles away with the "pilot" sitting at a video screen in an air conditioned office. We can spend 30 to 100 million dollars on EACH airplane used to fire missiles that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We can send a drone in with hellfire missiles, center the cross hairs and blow someone up on a mountain road. So - why even try to figure out what's causing the other guy to "terrorize" or hate or launch rockets. We simply say "they are wrong, I am right and to hell with them." Many times they ARE wrong. But so are we. And our way doesn't work well all the time - see Iraq and how well "smart" weapons are imposing our will.
We must - especially Israel and America - not get so overheated when someone burns the flag or says hateful things. A good combat commander studies his opponent - Patton knew everything there was to know about Rommel and vice versa. Why? Same reason football teams scout each other. So why can't we study the "enemy" and figure out what makes him hate us so much he'll blow up our buildings and people? I know - the "enemy" doesn't care to learn about us so why should we care about him or what he thinks? Because if we don't, we're going to lose. Because the "enemy" is fighting for a belief. For something he truly holds sacred. We're not. So - does it not make a little sense to spend some time and money figuring out what's so important that a person would strap high explosive on him or herself so he or she can kill him or herself and some people they consider "enemies?" Does it not make any sense at all that maybe they don't think the way we do? And that we don't think the way they do? That we have different value systems?
We've pretty well proven that high explosives and misery don't lead to "lasting peace." I think it's time to at least try to find an alternative.
Thanks for letting me vent.
I just saw the interview with Habib on CNN and decided to check out this blog for myself. I'm a Jew living in Canada. Firstly, let me say that I feel bad for every innocent civilian killed, be it Lebanese or Israeli. Innocents shouldn't die, and unfortunately it's part of war. People are always arguing that really Israel doesn't want peace or really Hezbollah doesn't want peace, or the same for Palestinians, Iran, etc... But when you look at the difference between the streets of Israel and the streets of Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, etc.. that's where one can draw their conclusion of who doesn't want peace. Iran's government publicly calls for the destruction of Israel... how can one make peace with that? There's not one Israeli government member, or civilian for that matter, that's going to go around calling for another nation's destruction. And I understand that you can say this recent conflict is fueling hate, but it's been like this way before this Lebanon crisis started. What is Israel to do? You're dealing with governments who don't care for peace, they want your destruction. How can one make peace with that? I just saw pictures from a rally in London of signs saying "massacre those who insult Islam" or "europe: you're next for 911". When do you see Israelis, Jews or anyone doing that? Now, I'm not putting down Islam as a whole, not even close to it. I don't know much about it, but from what I do know it's a beautiful religion. But it's frustrating seeing these reports on tv and seeing how tens upon tens of thousands of people calling for your destruction when you've never personally fired a shot at Lebanon, a Palestinian, etc and then hearing how you're the bad one.
I'm venting now, because this whole situation in the middle east in general is so frustrating. You know, forget liking each other. But why kill? Flick each other off every morning, hate them, don't lend a cup of sugar to each other, but why death? Why must people die, innocent people.
Wishing everyone a peaceful life.
What the Hell is going on? Does no one believe in God? Their God and everyone's God has to be the same God, just with a different name. God should be the only entity to take a life. Its too precious to waste on wars. Stop this maddness, and get on your knees and give thanks for the things we have, and not the crazyness that's going on in the world!! Stop the war!!
Israel was ready and waiting for the spark to go into Lebanon. The kidnappings had nothing to do with Israel's reaction...it was merely the spark. Everyone says, Of course this was "disproportionate" ...because this campaign had nothing to do with the kidnappings...it was long planned...HZ may be evil, but the other players are worse.
I see no obligation for Israel to warn civilians of impending bombing attacks. Yet they do. Has Hezbollah done the same? It seems any death of civilians in Lebanon is good for Hezbollah public relations, so who really stands to gain by those deaths?
Hezbollah wants death for Lebanese civilians. Hezbollah wants death for Israeli civilians. Hezbollah is evil.
Israel was so "ready and waiting for the spark" that they pulled out of Gaza, and were preparing to move more settlements out of the West Bank. There seems to be little incentive for them to withdraw further.
Hezbollah brought this destruction upon Lebanon, so put the blame where it truly lies.
And where, might I ask, is the Lebanese army? I haven't seen ONE picture of them in any news story so far. Who is in control over there? Hezbollah, the terrorist group. They run Lebanon, and you innocent people pay the price.
Your Hezbollah "education" teaches to hate Israelis as evil beasts, to hate America, and you wonder about your future? Hezbollah's goal is not to live in peace next to Israel, but to drive them out of existance.
In spite of all the evil and killing coming from Islamic extremists, most americans don't chant hate slogans on the streets, and we don't teach our children to hate.
Hezbollah is evil, and if you support them you deserve their fate.
Disarm Hezbollah and the war will go away. There better not be one surprised person when they happen to see the mushroom cloud. You can only push someone so far before they snap. Keep firing the rockets Hezbollah, you're going to get the big one.
I would like you to give such a touching account of ANY recent bombing of a jewish restaurant or market, where any number of people, completely innocent, were killed, maimed, tormented, scarred for life by wounds and memories....
I think Israel is showing remarkable restraint in it's war effort. They have plenty of justification for extreme revenge for those savage, barbaric attacks.
oh, Jim, my friend, you are so misguided...its not about Israeli restraint or revenge in its military campaign..it is about what its leaving behind when all is said and done..Israel policy is in self-destruct mode...whether they want to believe it or not...nobody is thinking about the long-term implications...and where is the Leb army, you ask? They were told to stand down, and Israel bombed their barracks anyway...so please try to think outside your western-driven TV box.
Nasrallah has been more than vocal about his intended targets.
All of you talk about good and evil. Jim from Minnesota you're at trip. Have you ever travelled anywhere in the world? Have you met real people not just those who live in your backwater little town.
good and evil. Religious concepts of shite. Hezbollah did not start this war. Israel chose to make war. ISrael has violated LEbnanese territory in the last six on numerous occasions with air raids, little raids into southern LEbanon and constantly breaks the sound barried with its f16s terrorising the nation whenever they feel like it. In the last six years the occasions of Hezbollah missiles falling on ISraeli civilians can be counted on one hand. HEzbollah's arms are a deterrent against one of the most powerful armies in the world. And most of its targets until ISrael starting murdering civilians in cold blood have been military. All the propaganda that Hezbolah started this war is exactly that propaganda. America's narrow minded view of the world of 'terrorists' and every one else just holds no stock in the Middle East. Hezbollah are an Arab Resistance group formed to fight the occupation of LEbanon by ISrael for 18 years until they won in 2000. SInce then Israel has kept LEbanese prisoners in its jails, kidnapped more, assasinated Palestinians on Lebanese territory and committed numerous violations of Lebanese air space. It doesn't agree to UN resolutions, blatantly ignores them with American backing, and then plans a war to destroy LEbanon. Hezbollah do not want an ISlamic state in Lebanon, they want equality for the shias of the country who have always been struck down and given no voice in government by the confessional make up of the government. Once Syria was chucked out of LEbanon, the country had the chance to build, expand and become big, so big that it would challenge Israel's economic power in the region in every way. Now ISrael couldn't have that could it. A thriving democracy that wasn't it and was doing better than it.
And incidentally in the West Bank and Gaza and the rest of Ocuppied Palestine ISrael has a policy of shooting children throwing stones to kill. IT is a policy of the IDF. It also likes to bulldoze anyone who stands in the way of a house it has decided to demolish - even they are American. Long Live Rachel Corrie. So don't think that Israel doesn't want to destroy Arab nations. It attempts to destroy Palestine every single day.
Well written and well thought out, but a lot of theories in there anon, and you know it.
these are not theories, but reality.
Are you a high ranking member of the Isreali government? No? Then it can only be theories about their motives.
"SInce then Israel has kept LEbanese prisoners in its jails, kidnapped more, assasinated Palestinians on Lebanese territory and committed numerous violations of Lebanese air space." etc etc.
This is reality, not theory. Who cares about their motives. Its the outcome, or reality, that matters.
what utter rubbish and anti-israeli propaganda. lets hope that Lebanon is forced to impose full Irani law and foreign policy.
no more blogs, no more fun, no more economy, no more films, no culture, no women , no sex, no drinks, no no no
wake up Lebanon.... HZ is Iran!!! is that what you really want??
Hezbollah and Isreal have both crossed the blue line numerous times...both are guilty. Don't act like only Isreal has ever done it, most times were reactions to Hezbollah.
wake up people, who said most lebanese support HZ? they dont, or didnt until recently...its not rubbish, but fact..unfortunately, the western media is so biased, no one is able to see the other side... the israeli attack on leb is what is going to push us closer to an HZ-driven govt...we dont want Israel and we dont want HZ. what do you propose we do?
The western media is NOT making it look like all of Lebanon supports Hezbollah...some people read one story or maybe two and think they are officially informed.
even bush and condi are not well-informed about the implications of this war, let alone the common folk...look at what they did to Iraq..people were screaming stop, and nobody listened..same scenario now...the middle east does not work according to western timeline, mentality or logic. very few people are getting this...
I am a mother and a grandmother from the U.S. who cannot get the image out of my head of the lifeless body of a little girl draped across the arms of a man who was carrying her. I keep thinking about her curly dark hair. It haunts me, she looked to be about the same age as my little one. I am sickened and repulsed by what is happening. There is no justification for this action against the Lebanese people. It is sickening.
Amal said
"no more blogs, no more fun, no more economy, no more films, no culture, no women , no sex, no drinks, no no no"
wake up! This is already happening, but not at the hands of Iran. It is happening at the hands of Israel.
mother and a grandmother from the U.S.:
How about that picture of the little Israeli baby girl who was killed by a sniper while her mother was holding her? Was that ok? Does THAT not haunt you? Do only certain casualties from specific countries haunt you?
Any child that dies from neglect or abuse or disease or war is horrible. As mothers we want to protect our children regardless of our politics or faith or nationality. Death on either side is tragic. Yes it "haunts' me, there's just so much more to be haunted by on the lebanese side of this situation because so many more innocents have been killed. My prayer is that not one more die on either side. It is a sad world when mourning the death of an innocent child is offensive to someone.
anon 5:01:
Well said!!! We all mourn the death of every child, as well as man or woman. Old age should be the only thing that has the right to kill us!
aliasjb:
Trust me, if Hezbollah had never gone after a civilian before these past 4 weeks, Israel wouldn't have struck the way it did. Hezbollah has been firing rockets for years now, just not enough at a time to really capture anyone's attention, as sad as that may be.
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