The Daily Background

Disclaimer
Before I start today, I want to make it very clear what my stance on the current violence in Lebanon and Israel is. Both sides (Hezbollah and the Israeli military) have committed war crimes and have violated international law in attacking civilians a great deal over the last two weeks that violence has been ongoing.

I do not think that the White House should be using our tax money to be supplying either side with weapons (as it is now doing), nor do I think it is appropriate for the White House to be supporting either side. Both sides are wrong and have committed vile, murderous acts over the last two weeks. I think the United States should join much of the international community and call for an immediate ceasefire to end the violence– a step which the White House does not want to take.

The White House is supporting and sending weaponry to the Israeli military, which has killed more than 350 civilians over the past two weeks (Hezbollah only about 20), and wounded between 600-1,000 civilians, as well as engaging in illegal attacks on civilian infrastructure such as roads, airports, seaports, highways, power plants, bridges and hospitals. We should not support them, nor should we support Hezbollah. The White House should call for peace.

Middle East Turmoil
While Israel did not bomb Lebanon for most of the last weekend (its attentions focused on southern Lebanon where it has partially invaded and plans to occupy several towns and regions until an international force takes over), the violent conflict shows no sign of abaiting, with Israel now bombing downtown Beirut on a regular basis again and civilian deaths mounting once again.

Secretary of State Rice, who is in Israel right now, says she’s looking for a lasting peace in the middle east, not an immediate ceasefire. Colbert says this is like trying to bring Jimmy Hoffa back on a unicorn. Apparently some (real) conservatives aren’t too pleased with Rice either, albeit for different reasons.

In an important development, Hezbollah has admitted that it did not expect Israel to mount such an aggressive military campaign in reaction to the two soldiers which the militant group kidnapped some two weeks ago.

2nd UN Outpost bombed by Israel, 4 UN troops killed
Late yesterday, the Israeli military illegally conducted a missile attack on a United Nations observing post in southern Lebanon, reportedly killing four United Nations peacekeepers. Several preliminary media reports and the statements of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan suggest that there is evidence that the strike (which resulted in a direct hit on the known UN post) was in fact deliberate.

If so (and this does indeed constitute a war crime), this sends an incredibly strong message. Israel has already said that it does not want a United Nations force in the area, and instead wants a NATO led force to come in to clean up its attacks after it finishes in Lebanon. Attacking a UN observer post (for the second time), and this time killing four UN personnel almost appears to be a threat from Israel towards the UN, when context is considered.

The United Nations recently voted 10-1 to condemn Israel’s illegal attacks on Lebanese civilians (however this vote was promptly vetoed by the US delegation).

Misc Middle East News
A clear majority of British citizens think the Israeli military has gone too far in its illegal attacks on Lebanese civilians during the last two weeks of conflict.

Fox reports that the White House has given the Israeli military 10-14 days to finish up their illegal violent campaign against Lebanon.

Filed under: Middle East Crisis, Z-TDB Blog