Saturday, July 29, 2006

Letters

This letter was published in "The Independent," London, 26/7/06:

Sir:
Yes, hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing their homes and are trekking like refugees away from the fighting. Those who are not fleeing are hunkered down in basements and shelters, with limited food and often nothing to do to while away the hours, while overhead they can hear the thump of missiles hitting their homes, schools and place of work. Yes, this is an accurate portrait of northern Israel!
But, it is hardly reported in the media, in contrast to the movement of thousands of Europeans in ships from Beirut harbor that is being reported in detail. The plight of the Lebanese is reported, but there is not a word of the reciprocal situation of Israelis, under attack from 1,600 rockets fired so far into Israel, with salvos of 70-100 at a time in limited areas. Between the Lebanese border and a line from Haifa to Nazareth there are ca. 1 million people living, and of these it is estimated that ca. one third, 300,000 people, have fled, but you will not find that reported in the media!
Why does Hizbollah have all these rockets? Where did they get them from? Israel is criticized for hitting bridges (infrastructure) and trucks, when these are being used to attempt to resupply Hizbollah with more rockets - would you take that risk? The IDF is being criticized for hitting villages when it is known that rockets are hidden in bunkers under specific houses and schools in those villages, would you leave them there? What does "proportionate" mean under these circumstances, nothing but a propagandistic word to try to restrict Israel's right to respond to the rockets and defend itself.
Sincerely
Jack Cohen
Netanya

This letter was published in "The Irish Times," 27/7/06:

Madam:
I am amazed at the shallowness of the analysis of most politicians and media regarding the current war between Israel and Hizbollah. It is NOT a war between Israel and Lebanon, Israel has no dispute with the Lebanese Government or people, and wants to see a stable and peaceful Lebanon to its north. But, once Israel lost 8 soldiers killed and two kidnapped in the unprovoked Hizbollah raid across the internationally recognized border on July 12, then Israel had to strike back. In doing so it naturally hit the headquarters of Hizbollah in the Shia neighborhood of south Beirut, it also struck airports, bridges and roads throughout Lebanon to prevent re-supply of Hizbollah, and telecommunciations facilities to stop Hizbollah broadcasting instructions to its fighters. Any sensible military force would have to carry out these raids.
In the thousands of sorties that the IAF has flown in the past two weeks, barely 400 people have been killed, that is an incredibly small number and testimony to the accuracy of the IDF's targeting! If they wanted to cause civilian casualties, as some suggest, then by now there would be thousands and they wouldn't be dropping warning flyers on the population. Also, the targets of the IDF are not in the Christian, Sunni Muslim or Druse areas of Lebanon, these are essentially untouched by the fighting.
In the final analysis you have a choice, either you choose the Shia Muslim extremist terrorists of Hizbollah or the democratic government of Israel. Who would you prefer to win? It may soon affect you where you live.
Sincerely
Jack Cohen
Netanya
Israel

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