posted July 24, 2006 08:26 PM            

U.N. Chief Accuses Hezbollah of 'Cowardly Blending' Among Refugees

Monday , July 24, 2006

LARNACA, Cyprus — The U.N. humanitarian chief accused Hezbollah on Monday of "cowardly blending" among Lebanese civilians and causing the deaths of hundreds during two weeks of cross-border violence with Israel.

The U.N. humanitarian chief accused Hezbollah on Monday of "cowardly blending" among Lebanese civilians and causing the deaths of hundreds during two weeks of cross-border violence with Israel.

The militant group has built bunkers and tunnels near the Israeli border to shelter weapons and fighters, and its members easily blend in among civilians.

Jan Egeland spoke with reporters at the Larnaca airport in Cyprus late Monday after a visit to Lebanon on his mission to coordinate an international aid effort. On Sunday he had toured the rubble of Beirut's southern suburbs, a once-teeming Shiite district where Hezbollah had its headquarters.

During that visit he condemned the killing and wounding of civilians by both sides, and called Israel's offensive "disproportionate" and "a violation of international humanitarian law."

On Monday he had strong words for Hezbollah, which crossed into Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers on July 12, triggering fierce fighting from both sides.

"Consistently, from the Hezbollah heartland, my message was that Hezbollah must stop this cowardly blending ... among women and children," he said. "I heard they were proud because they lost very few fighters and that it was the civilians bearing the brunt of this. I don't think anyone should be proud of having many more children and women dead than armed men."

"We need a cessation of hostilities because this is a war where civilians are paying the price," said Egeland, who was heading to Israel.

Hezbollah guerrillas crossed into Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers on July 12, triggering fierce fighting from both sides.

At least 384 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 20 soldiers and 11 Hezbollah fighters, according to security officials. At least 600,000 Lebanese have fled their homes, according to the World Health Organization. One estimate by Lebanon's finance minister putting the number at 750,000, nearly 20 percent of the population.

Israel's death toll stands at 36, with 17 people killed by Hezbollah rockets and 19 soldiers killed in the fighting.

During his visit to Lebanon, Egeland issued an urgent call for US$150 million (euro118.74 million) to help Lebanon through the next three months.

posted July 24, 2006 09:10 PM              

LOve LOve LOve

posted July 24, 2006 09:14 PM              

Will it ever sink into your damn head?

That is what some people are angry about.

Hellooooooooooooooo

Knock knock any brain left?

posted July 24, 2006 09:17 PM              

Do you know..why you're here?

it's begins with you..he and she..her and him..they and them..each have to come full serpent circle and forgive..or the karma..laws..will be fulfilled. ...

Simply..

posted July 25, 2006 01:12 AM              

The Israelis dropped more than a hundred bombs a day and blame Hezbollah for the death of innocent Lebanese civilians.

This is pure propaganda.

To date...

384 innocent Lebanese civilians have been killed. The number of Hezbollah militants killed is not even comparable...only 11.

11 000 Lebanese injured

750 000 Lebanese displaced.

posted July 25, 2006 01:23 AM              

The terrorists were hiding out amongst the civilians. That's why the military went into homes shooting people in the head including a 6 month old baby who was obviously a terrorist supporter.

It's an old refrain repeated like a mantra that is infamous with the neo-cons. Blame the terrorists for all the acts of the military, both the U.S. military and now the Israeli military.

When all else fails blame the Clintons. lol

The funny thing is that there were U.S. military personnel charged for the murder of civilians in Iraq and yet these people still believe this crap. No common sense or reasoning whatsoever.

posted July 25, 2006 01:40 AM            

Both Hezbollah and Hamas hide behing the skirts of women and children and make them targets. There are no worse cowards on planet earth than terrorists.

According to lying leftists and terrorist supporters, Israel is supposed to shrug and say no harm, no foul when terrorists fire off missiles or rockets into Israeli cities.

Fighting back against terrorists is forbidden...according to leftists and terrorists supporters.

The fact terrorists are using civilian homes to fire off rockets into Israel is supposed to prevent Israel from striking back.

posted July 25, 2006 02:00 AM              

yes this is the same excuse used for the deaths of innocent Iraqis.

quote:

---

I would have to say that the numbers of deaths - 384 total with a break down of 353 being civilians, 20 soldiers and only 11 terrorists is kind of disproportionate wouldn't you? Common sense and reasoning should tell you who is caught in the middle of all this and who is doing the most suffering and for what, so they can say they killed 11 terrorists? For every terrorists killed both the U.S. and Israel create more hate and three or four times that number of new terrorists. Maybe the lives of those 353 men, women and children were worth it for the cause for some people but I don't think that most people feel that way about it.

---

posted July 25, 2006 02:19 AM              

Former Nordland University (Norway) associate professor, Dr. Abbas Bakhtiar writes: As Israeli planes pound the Lebanese infrastructure to sunder, as the Palestinians spend their days and nights in inhumane conditions and under siege, as people in 20 Israeli towns sleep in bomb shelters, Israel threatened to widen the conflict by attacking Syria.

According to Baztab.com, an Iranian online newspaper, the Israeli government has given Syria 72 hours to handover the two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah or face the consequences.

Iran already has declared that any attack on Syria will be considered an attack on the Muslim world (i.e. Iran and others).

If Israel attacks Syria, Iran will enter the fray, which will bring in the US, which will involve Iraq and the Persian Gulf countries. In other words any attack on Syria may start a regional war that may engulf the whole region, sending the price of the crude oil to unimaginable levels.

Is it possible that a small border skirmish turn into a regional war?

The answer is yes.

The First World War started by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne. But as historians tell us now, the assassination was an excuse to start a war. The political/military situation was such that if the assassination hadn’t occurred the opposing countries would have found another excuse to start the war.

Similarly, the situation in the Middle East has been developing in such a way that even if Hamas hadn’t captured the Israeli soldier, Israel would have invaded Gaza anyway.

This article deals with the reasons behind Israel’s invasion of Gaza and Lebanon....

posted July 25, 2006 02:39 AM            

The nation of Israel is here to stay. That nation existed prior, way prior to any so called Palistanians.

Hamas and Hezbollah are not going to wipe Israel off the world map. A lot of terrorist will lose their lives attempting to do so and some civilians too.

Chalk that loss of life up to the terrorists who are unable to live at peace with anyone...let alone the state of Israel.

Of course, leftists and terrorists supporters...who are in league with each other under the banner of Islamic fascism want the nation of Israel to disappear...and have said so.

It's not going to happen.

posted July 25, 2006 02:58 AM              

Not going to happen.

posted July 25, 2006 03:17 AM              

Not true about Israel being around longer than the Palestinians, Jwhop. You need to go back and read your history. They have been around equally as long. In Scripture the Palestinians were called the Philistines.

posted July 25, 2006 03:25 AM              

quote:

---

Also stop telling us what we want and we think, Jwhop.

---

posted July 25, 2006 02:31 PM              

They can both kiss my ass.

posted July 25, 2006 04:40 PM            

Whats really sad is most of you should be old enought to remember the event! We wont mention any names though will we team rainbow. (Rainbow and Mirandee with their side kick VL)

posted July 25, 2006 04:47 PM            

Even the Lebanese government as condemed the tactics employed by Hizbollad hiding behind and dressing like civilians in order to increase the numbers.

I wouldn't put it past Hizbollah to turn around and kill civilians JUST to make it look like Israel.

It's what is expected from a group of coward terrorists!

Oh yeah..and as far as the "who has the life worth more... must be the Isrealis because less of them died" bullsh1t... HEY.. don't be p1ssed because the Arabs can't aim worth a crap and the people won't leave their cities / houses. They are (the civilians) most likely worried that the Terrorists will take their belongings as well as get their damn houses bombed.

------------------
The democratic world believes that it is not the terrorists that are to blame, but us. Us, the westerners.
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the sooner you eliminate this misconception from your minds, the better.
We are NOT to blame. It is the freaking terrorists and the freaking terrorists only!!!! They are the bad guys. They do not understand concepts like peace, democracy, and respect for human life. They are, pure and simPle, EVIL!!!!! Behind all their political manipulations, if you carefully look at the actions of these MONSTERS, they are EVIL!!

http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000489.htm

posted July 25, 2006 04:56 PM            

While their origins have been debated, the Philistines are thought to be what the Egyptians referred to as the "Sea Peoples", possibly immigrants from Aegean or Anatolia. They invaded Egypt and were defeated by I think Ramses III or Merneptah.

They settled on what is now the northern coast of Israel, but Nebuchadnezzar conquered all of the Kingdom of Judah as well as what is Syria, and the Philistine cities were absorbed into the Babylonian empire.

According to several academic sources, all traces of the Philistines as a people or ethnic group disappear after this period. The former Philistine cities were subsequently under the control of Persians, Jews (Hasmonean Kingdom), Greeks (Seleucid Empire), Romans, and subsequent empires.

posted July 25, 2006 05:09 PM            

I wonder why so many people on this board support the terrorist actions? They seem to relish laying blame on everyone BUT those causing the deaths of so many people - but instead blame it on the US and Israel. ]

------------------
The democratic world believes that it is not the terrorists that are to blame, but us. Us, the westerners.
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the sooner you eliminate this misconception from your minds, the better.
We are NOT to blame. It is the freaking terrorists and the freaking terrorists only!!!! They are the bad guys. They do not understand concepts like peace, democracy, and respect for human life. They are, pure and simPle, EVIL!!!!! Behind all their political manipulations, if you carefully look at the actions of these MONSTERS, they are EVIL!!

http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000489.htm

posted July 25, 2006 05:22 PM              

quote:

---

Even the Lebanese government as condemed the tactics employed by Hizbollad hiding behind and dressing like civilians in order to increase the numbers.

---

Yes, how could anyone possibly mistake these terrorists for civilians...

posted July 25, 2006 05:39 PM            

I'm just trying to point out to those who like to vilify Israel that this sick $hit is happening on both sides.

Are the lives of burnt up Lebanese children any more important than those of burnt up Israeli ones? Seems so based on how some here post pictures.

posted July 25, 2006 06:01 PM            

Rainbow, you and Mirandee brag that you're a team, but you have one hell of a losing streak and should consider partnering up with intellectually stronger people.

How many children were killed by the Israelis in this conflict? How many Adults? How many can be attributed (adults that is) to NOT being a part of Hizbollah?

Both you and Mirandee LOVE to compare apples to oranges. For example, Mirandee using the case of an NCO Soldier who directly refused an order to be a leader and go with his troops to Iraq and being punished to a Soldier saying he doesn't believe in the war but will serve his country anyway - as being the same. Her point was that a Soldier going AWOL is the same as a Soldier voicing his opinion.. NOT...

You post pictures of dead children and have the nerve, no the intellectual DEVOID of somehow taking my words about Hizbollah terrorists hiding behind civilian clothes to mean "children" God you are really deranged.

I have heard some stupid... and I mean STUPID things before- but what on EARTH made you think the two were even CLOSE to being similar? WOW.. that is just a poor, poor excuse for you to post pictures of dead children in your effort to make Jews look like the enemy.

So what is it Rainbow? What makes you so anti-Jewish as to make it seem as though they are targeting children? Is it because they have a great relationship with enemy number ONE.. the United States?

posted July 26, 2006 04:37 AM              

quote:

---

So what is it Rainbow? What makes you so anti-Jewish as to make it seem as though they are targeting children? Is it because they have a great relationship with enemy number ONE.. the United States?
huh....

---

Pid will you stop being so childish?

To assume that I'm anti-Jewish because my heart goes out to the children, is very small minded of you....

I'm NOT anti-Jewish and enemy number One is NOT the United States...duh!

FYI, the children are the ones who are being hit the hardest....
++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bombings Hit Children Hardest

by Dahr Jamail

BEIRUT - About 55 percent of all casualties at the Beirut Government University Hospital are children of 15 years of age or less, hospital records show.

"This is worse than during the Lebanese civil war," Bilal Masri, assistant director of the hospital, one of Beirut's largest, told IPS Monday.

Not only are most of the patients children, but many of the injured have been brought in serious condition, he said. "Now we have a 30 percent fatality rate here in Beirut. That means that 30 percent of everyone hit by Israeli bombs are dying. It is a catastrophe."

The fatality rate was high, he said, "because the Israelis are using new kinds of bombs which can enter shelters. They are bombing the bomb shelters which are full of refugees."

Masri said he had barely slept in the 13 days since the Israeli bombing of Lebanon began. His hospital, he said, was functioning with only 25 percent staff because "most are now unable to get here because so many roads and bridges are bombed. Those who are here are eating, sleeping and living here 24 hours a day because if they leave they fear they may be unable to return."

On Sunday, Jan Egeland, the United Nations emergency relief chief, toured the devastated areas of south Beirut. He described what he saw as "horrific" and said the destruction "makes it a violation of humanitarian law."

Egeland said UN supplies of humanitarian aid would arrive within the next few days, but "we need access," and "so far Israel is not giving us access."

Aid is now a matter of life and death. Masri said his hospital would soon begin to run out of medicines and supplies.

"We are concerned about what is to come because we cannot continue at this rate," he said. "Already we've had to go to the Ministry of Health to get extra supplies. If the UN succeeds in opening safe passage from the south, we will be deluged with patients."

Masri said hospitals in Sidon and other southern cities are overwhelmed with patients, who are being treated in the corridors and lobbies.

According to Masri many of the injured there are suffering from the impact of incendiary white phosphorous. The Lebanese ministry of interior has officially said that the Israeli military has used this weapon.

"We don't know why we aren't getting help from the International Committee of the Red Cross," Masri said. "The Lebanese Red Cross is helping us the best they can, but no foreign agencies are helping us. Why not?"

As the IPS correspondent was speaking with the assistant director, an enraged man was led out by several security guards. His wounded son had just been discharged.

"I want my son to stay here because we have no place to go," the man was shouting. "Our home has been flattened. If we leave here we must go to a refugee camp in a school, or sleep on the dirt in a park. I demand you allow us to stay here."

People are furious about the high number of casualties among children.. Mariam Mattar, a 50-year-old mother sitting on a mattress in a park in central Beirut along with hundreds of other refugees from southern Beirut said no home there was safe.

"We left our house because they are bombing everything in the civilian neighbourhoods," she told IPS. "They are killing all our children. What human would ever do this kind of thing."

They had moved to central Beirut because it was safer. But living out in the open has meant another kind of hell. "We are without our shoes even. We are living in the dirt. Would Israel allow her children to live like this," she asked, pointing at her bare feet.

She pulled a little boy towards her and said, "What have these children done? The other children who didn't escape are rotting under the destroyed buildings as we speak."

Israeli war planes roared above as several refugees spoke with IPS.

"We are very afraid from all the bombings," Ramadan, a 12-year-old boy in the park said. "I hope they stop. This is all we want now.."

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0724-10.htm

posted July 26, 2006 04:42 AM              

Goodness, gracious!

Those anti-Jewish people are all over, aren't they?

++++++++++++++++++

Morality is NOT on our side

By Ze'ev Maoz

Professor of political science at Tel Aviv university

There's practically a holy consensus right now that the war in the North is a just war and that morality is on our side.

The bitter truth must be said: this holy consensus is based on short-range selective memory, an introverted worldview, and double standards.

This war is not a just war.

Israel is using excessive force without distinguishing between civilian population and enemy, whose sole purpose is extortion.

That is not to say that morality and justice are on Hezbollah's side.

Most certainly not.

But the fact that Hezbollah "started it" when it kidnapped soldiers from across an international border does not even begin to tilt the scales of justice toward our side.

Let's start with a few facts.

We invaded a sovereign state, and occupied its capital in 1982.

In the process of this occupation, we dropped several tons of bombs from the air, ground and sea, while wounding and killing thousands of civilians.

Approximately 14,000 civilians were killed between June and September of 1982, according to a conservative estimate.

The majority of these civilians had nothing to do with the PLO, which provided the official pretext for the war.

In Operations Accountability and Grapes of Wrath, we caused the mass flight of about 500,000 refugees from southern Lebanon on each occasion.

There are no exact data on the number of casualties in these operations, but one can recall that in Operation Grapes of Wrath, we bombed a shelter in the village of Kafr Kana which killed 103 civilians. The bombing may have been accidental, but that did not make the operation any more moral.

On July 28, 1989, we kidnapped Sheikh Obeid, and on May 12, 1994, we kidnapped Mustafa Dirani, who had captured Ron Arad.

Israel held these two people and another 20-odd Lebanese detainees without trial, as "negotiating chips."

That which is [i]permissible]/i] to us is, of course, forbidden to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah crossed a border that is recognized by the international community. That is true.

What we are forgetting is that ever since our withdrawal from Lebanon, the Israel Air Force has conducted photo-surveillance sorties on a daily basis in Lebanese airspace.

While these flights caused no casualties, border violations are border violations. Here too, morality is not on our side.

So much for the history of morality. Now, let's consider current affairs.

What exactly is the difference between launching Katyushas into civilian population centers in Israel and the Israel Air Force bombing population centers in south Beirut, Tyre, Sidon and Tripoli?

The IDF has fired thousands of shells into south Lebanon villages, alleging that Hezbollah men are concealed among the civilian population.

Approximately 25 Israeli civilians have been killed as a result of Katyusha missiles to date.

The number of dead in Lebanon, the vast majority comprised of civilians who have nothing to do with Hezbollah, is more than 300.

Worse yet, bombing infrastructure targets such as power stations, bridges and other civil facilities turns the entire Lebanese civilian population into a victim and hostage, even if we are not physically harming civilians.

The use of bombings to achieve a diplomatic goal - namely, coercing the Lebanese government into implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1559 - is an attempt at political blackmail, and no less than the kidnapping of IDF soldiers by Hezbollah is the aim of bringing about a prisoner exchange.

There is a propaganda aspect to this war, and it involves a competition as to who is more miserable.

Each side tries to persuade the world that it is more miserable.

As in every propaganda campaign, the use of information is selective, distorted and self-righteous.

If we want to base our information (or shall we call it propaganda?) policy on the assumption that the international environment is going to buy the dubious merchandise that we are selling, be it out of ignorance or hypocrisy, then fine.

But in terms of our own national soul searching, we owe ourselves to confront the bitter truth - maybe we will win this conflict on the military field, maybe we will make some diplomatic gains, but on the moral plane, we have no advantage, and we have no special status.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/742257.html