NPR : Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

The Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

NPR.org, July 17, 2006 · Nearly a week after the militant group Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid, fierce fighting continues in Israel and Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said attacks in Lebanon would end when the Israeli soldiers were freed and the Lebanese army deployed along the border. Hezbollah, in turn, has asked for a prisoner exchange. Below, a sampling of opinions from around the globe:

SAUDI ARABIA

In a Bind

Arab News

July 17, 2006

Lebanese civilians and their cities are bearing the brunt of an assault for which Siniora holds both Israel and Hezbollah responsible -- the former for using a disproportionate use of deadly force to secure the release of two captured Israeli soldiers, the latter for dragging Lebanon into a conflict the government neither chose nor wanted.

NEW YORK

Playing Hamas' Game

New York Times

July 17, 2006

With violence in the Middle East expanding alarmingly, it is important to be clear not only about who is responsible for the latest outbreak, but who stands to gain most from its continued escalation. Both questions have the same answer: Hamas and Hezbollah.

LEBANON

Moral Vacuum of War Years

The Daily Star

July 17, 2006

The Israelis do have a right to 'defend themselves,' but defense cannot be achieved through indiscriminate warfare. Surely, there must be a more effective way to protect the lives of Israeli citizens, one that will guarantee a long-term peace instead of a short-term victory.

JAPAN

Escalation Need Not be Inevitable

The Japan Times

July 16, 2006

Israelis and Palestinians should resume discussions on fixing their borders and dealing with the emergence of a Palestinian state. Failure to stop the cycle of violence will ensure that it intensifies. Whatever fragile peace exists in the Middle East is in danger of going up in flames.

JORDAN

Negotiation, Not Destruction

Jordan Times

July 17, 2006

The goal of Israel's move is to paralyse [sic] the economy and undermine investors' faith in the stability and future of Lebanon. The consequence is that all Lebanese suffer, and not simply the combatant group, and in time, dissent is nourished to become internal confrontations and strife, destabilizing the country, isolating Hizbollah [sic] and destroying its basis.

LONDON

Lebanon Crisis About to Spiral Out of Control

Financial Times

July 17, 2006

Urgent and forceful diplomatic action is needed now if this crisis is not to develop into an anarchic, borderless free-for-all that will set new standards of violence even for the Middle East…This use of disproportionate force is punishing the population of Lebanon -- an act proscribed by the laws of war -- for the criminal adventurism of Hizbollah [sic] and its sponsors.

JERUSALEM

Give the IDF Time

Jerusalem Post

July 17, 2006

Israel should be openly rejecting the right of other nations to lecture us about sensitivity toward civilian casualties when no other nation, under these circumstances, would take such extreme measures to avoid such casualties...

EGYPT

The Real Aim

Middle East Times

July 17, 2006

The real aim is to change the regime in Lebanon and to install a puppet government. That was the aim of Ariel Sharon's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. It failed. But Sharon and his pupils in the military and political leadership have never really given up...

Questions & Comments: We'd like to know what you think about the commentaries on this page. Send us your thoughts. Please include your full name and hometown.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

About World Opinion

Read a sampling of opinions and editorials from around the world about issues of the day.

Questions & Comments:

Send us your thoughts. »

Browse Topics

Services

Programs

Text-only