Originally Posted by Jose Jones
I agree with most of the points in that article, and I understand what you’re trying to point out here Stu, but I think making glib comments such as this doesn’t really help. The Israeli attacks on Lebanon, horrendously heavy-handed that they are, are directed at terrorists. I’m not talking about the oppression of the Palestinian people here, or previous atrocities by Israel. But to call Hezbollah a popular movement is a fallacy in my opinion, these are terrorist organisations, able to operate out of Lebanon due to the weakness of the Lebanese government after meddling from Syria for so many years. Hezbollah is not a representative of the Lebanese or Palestinian people responding to provocation by Israeli atrocities on the Palestinian population. Hezbollah is an organisation who are fighting to kill as many Israeli citizens and army alike and who’s dedicated goal is to wipe Israel off the map.
If Israel hadn’t bombarded and killed citizens in Lebanon would Hezbollah be attacking Israel? Yes.
Is Israel’s treatment and ghetto-isation of the Palestinians wrong? Undoubtedly.
Is Israel’s attacking of civilians and public targets in Lebanon wrong? Disgracefully wrong and ill judged.
Are Hezbollah the equivalent of the allies in WWII? Bollocks.
|
I accept that it was a little bit of a saucy comparison but it was to try and get a point across about the interchangeable use of the words terrorist and war whenever it suits certain agendas.
The Hebollah situation is not a simple one but they are fighting for the rights of Arabs. The motivations are obviously going to be very different within the group. There will be factions who are just manically anti-Israeli and don't care about a Palestinian state or the right of Arabs to live with amenities and the ability to work without fear of violence. Then there will be factions that do care about that side of the debate.
If the Israeli's are doing whatever they like, taking and no doubt torturing prisoners, left right and centre then someone has to do something to stop them. If the UN or the international community as a whole won't do anything that leaves you pretty isolated. It doesn't make diplomatic sense for any one arab nation to start an all out war with Israel as they are the regional superpower with the military might. In the end it comes down to an Arab resistance funded by arab countries looking to defend their people.
I'd be interested to see how bitter, twisted and anti-German the British would have become after 30 years of that kind of treatment if we'd have lost the war. Each unjustified death fuelling the hatred and spawning a generation of would be martyrs.