Casus Bellum: Hizbollah's three grievances
I've just come across an excellent article, written at the start of the current conflict, which lays our clearly the genuine grievances Hizbollah (and Lebanon as a whole) had against Israel as of 12 July. Its by the Council for the National Interest, a lobby group founded (surprisingly) by a veteran Republican Congressman aiming to counterbalance the Israeli lobby in Washington.
"No one is denying the right of a nation or a people to defend itself. But Israel does not have the right to destroy bridges, roads, power stations and international airports in a vindictive show of force, in what will likely be a futile attempt to force the release of the two soldiers captured near the border. The right to defend a nation of people also applies to even the followers of Hezbollah trying to regain still-occupied territory and prisoners held illegally by Israel. There are real issues between Lebanon and Israel that should have been settled with the help of the United States long ago.
(1) Israel failed to keep her promise to make available maps of the 140,000 mines she left behind in Lebanon.
(2) Three small sectors of land overlooking the Litani River [Sheba Farms] were retained by Israel and were the cause of complaints from the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, not just Hezbollah.
(3) The three Lebanese prisoners that were moved by Israel, contrary to the Geneva Convention prohibition against an occupying power transporting prisoners into its own territory, should have been returned long ago.
The U.S. has ignored all three complaints made repeatedly by the Siniora government. The Council for the National Interest delegation to the Palestinian elections also visited Beirut and talked with all factions from the President on down. In almost every case, the three issues cited above were mentioned and an appeal was made for the United States to take some action before it was too late. That was six months ago."
1 comment:
1. If Israel left mines in Lebanon than maps of those locations should be turned over. The fact that there have been very few mine explosions would indicate that most of the mines are gone.
2. Israel would turn over the Sheba farms immediately if Syria would send in writing to the United Nations that the land in question is Lebanans. Syria refuses to follow the legal guidelines of the U. N. Charter to change the border. I Syria would just put it in Writing this issue would go away, but Syria is enjoying the conflicts they are causing.
3. One of the three Lebanese prisoners murdered a 4 year old girl. There is no honor in a man who bashes in the head of a 4 year old. He should rot in prison.
Post a Comment