Israel: On a never ending cycle of defending herself
By Felicia (Fee) Benamon (08/21/06)
There is some speculation over which side, Israel or Hezbollah, won this latest battle. I am certain Israel was not the clear victor, yet Israel's resolve to succeed against her enemy, never dies down.
It was not long before Hezbollah broke the UN induced cease fire, firing 10 rockets which hit Southern Lebanon. The weekend commando raid conducted by Israeli troops near Baalbek, Lebanon (Hezbollah's haven) was not the event which threatened the shallow cease fire (no matter how much the media, the UN, and Israel's enemies spin it). Israel's Olmert has had to spend time defending the operation saying it was an act of defense; Israel does not want Hezbollah to rearm. The UN's Kofi Annan, doesn't believe it, but that's not a huge surprise.
There was hardly any mention of Hezbollah's rocket attacks. No rebuke was given to Hezbollah for their actions. But go figure, Israel again, is blamed for breaking the cease fire as the country takes steps to defend itself.
Israel agreed to the cease fire, and has made strides time and again, to find some type of reckoning in the situation.
And Iran, another potentially explosive situation, has threatened to "wipe Israel off the map," as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad puts it. Just how does the international community deal with that kind of mind set? Iran's militant view against Israel is fueling Hezbollah and the "call" to participate in "jihad" instead of reaching out in peace.
It is a continuing cycle, Israel having to retaliate due to attacks on her soldiers or civilians by a terrorist organization. Many countries of the world see Israel as the aggressor.
Israel is a democracy which seeks only to live in peace. But if there is a threat or strike against her people, Israel is obligated to act and defend against any attacks.
There is, no doubt, a favored view of Hezbollah at the UN. Otherwise, Hezbollah would have been labeled for exactly what it is, a terror network. Hezbollah ignored the cease fire, and the whereabouts of the 2 kidnapped Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, are still unknown.
President Bush has said that Israel has a right to defend herself. If true, then the cease fire has no purpose than only to buy more time for Hezbollah to ratchet up more of their old tricks.
The media continues to stoke public scrutiny towards Israel by showing suffering Lebanese who didn't leave the area of the fighting. And there is scarce reporting on Israeli casualties or suffering.
Even as Israel, in their kindness, dropped leaflets to warn citizens of Lebanon to leave, some people ignored the warning. But the media chooses to show repeated images of the suffering of those affected by the bombings in Lebanon, and how Hezbollah is stepping in to offer free housing to those who are now homeless.
Hezbollah is now trying to show itself as a legitimate organization by helping those who are downtrodden, but the fact is, the only way they could help their fellow man would be to disarm, and look for a means of peace with Israel. But of course, they staunchly refuse. Hezbollah have only themselves to blame for the deaths and destruction of so many lives in Lebanon. Hezbollah provoked Israel, and is still on the warpath. But will the UN acknowledge that? No.
At the inception of the cease fire agreement, Hezbollah's leader Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah agreed to the cease fire, but would not accept all the terms. He should be made to accept the cease fire terms in full, be forced to disarm, and held accountable for the aggression against Israel by the kidnapping of Israel's soldiers.
Kofi Annan's remarks, in regards to both the Lebanese and Israeli governments agreeing to the cease fire read:
"I am happy to announce that the two leaders have agreed that the cessation of hostilities and the end of the fighting will enter into force on 14 August."
How about the "cessation of hostilities" in regards to Hezbollah? More than likely, Kofi Annan won't pressure Hezbollah to disarm. The cease fire keeps Israel in constant defensive mode. It is no doubt, biased in favor of Hezbollah.
The only logical answer would have been to let Israel finish off Hezbollah. This conflict will now come down to political games and pointing the finger at Israel because of their perceived move against Hezbollah in Baalbek, Lebanon which strained the cease fire.
Enough!
It's high time to get real. Dirty politics has been the reason for allowing so much terrorism to run rampant and unchecked. It's time to crack down on the real perpetrators of terror and make them accountable. Let's start with Hezbollah please.
Related Reading:
Hezbollah rockets hit south Lebanon, Israel says (after cease fire):
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4114981.html
IDF officer killed in commando raid in east Lebanon...:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/752185.html
(Printer friendly version) Email: Felicia (Fee) Benamon
