I want to say first of all this is my first (ever) post so hi to all of you and lots of hugs!
I am a European and I think Israel is going OTT. I feel that they are extremely iron-fisted in both this and the Palestinian scenario. The underlying doctrine of the IDF seems to be "total-war" in which you basically bomb the hell out of the country you are fighting against, without due regard for civilian casualties. In the US, this doesn't seem to effect support for Israel (57% in latest poll) but in Europe its a PR-disaster. I put part of this down partly to the European past experience of colonial struggle, and the shame and regret of Israeli-style tactics used back then e.g. Algeria, Ireland, except of course in cases of countries like mine (Ireland) where we see Israel's control of the Palestinian territories as paralleling the former British occupation. Also, the NI Peace Process has influenced European public-opinion more towards the view of conflict resolution through dialogue rather than military means - especially where there is a separatist conflict and if historic injustices were involved.
Also harming Israel's case in this matter is the disregard for UN resolutions criticising it. They demand the implementation of Resolution 1559 disarming Hezbollah, while ignoring resolutions demand withdrawl to 1967 borders. They have also alienated Euro-opinion by building settlements in the occupied West Bank, Gaza (Palestine) and Golan (Syrian territory). And while they eventually got out of Gaza, they continued bombing it, undermining the spirit of the exercise and arguably provoking Hamas to capture IDF soldiers. I agree that in one sense, Hezbollah was unprovoked, but the Arab world could have been said to be provoked by the Gaza offensive. I would have more sympathy for Israel if it at least tried a new peace-process with the Palestinians and its Arab neighbours, instead of the broken-record routine of "we don't have a partner on the other side" that has spanned 6 years encompassing Arafat, Abbas and now Hamas.
For me personally, I also reflect on the fact that from the 60's until the late 90's, the Provisional IRA in NI planted bombs incessantly in England and NI, yet the British government did not bomb Dublin or Cork. Yet Israel calls the wholesale destruction of Lebanese infrastructure "self-defence". There is no proportionality to this. I also contrast the 4 weeks President Bush gave to the Taliban to hand over Osama with the hours it took for Israel to attack Lebanon. I think the Afghan campaign showed far more restraint than Israel's campaigns in Palestine and Lebanon. However I also think that one of the reasons why the Iraq campaign has gone sour for the Americans is because of the ill-advised decision - reported in the media - to seek Israeli advice on counter-insurgency. I think experience shows how unwise such advice is. You can kill the terrorist, but you won't kill the terrorism until you address the underlying causes and grievances that give rise to it.
Americans are entitled to their views. But I think that they are being failed by a one-sided message from their leaders' blind support for Israel and by politicians beholden to the pro-Israel lobby for campaign contributions at elections. People don't always know when they're being brainwashed.
, Israel has no choice but to take action, any inaction on Israel's part will only be seen as a sign of weakness and strengthen hezbollahs resolve. And any other Islamic extremist group whos intent is to annihilate Israel.
leave it out.
