Israel Invades Lebanon - Israeli Soldiers Kidnapped By Hezbollah Backed By Syria and Iran - European Union Criticizes Israel For Attack

July 13th 2006

Rice and Saniora

The Lebanese government has said it has no real control over the Hezbollah guerillas that captured two Israeli soldiers on Wednesday. Hezbollah has been a thorn in the side of many Lebanese. Past Lebanese governments have insisted that replacing the guerrillas by Lebanese army troops would be a mistake.

Some Lebanese say that replacing Hezbollah would be doing Israel a free service by protecting their northern border from guerilla attacks. The western-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora has not yet been able to disarm the guerillas of the Shiite Hezbollah. Many in the West, including President Bush, fear the Israeli assault could cause the fall of Lebanon's anti-Syrian government.

A few months ago, various factions met in central Beirut to discuss many issues including the issue of disarming Hezbollah. The International Herald Tribune reports that after the Israeli invasion “anyone calling for disarming Hezbollah now risks being called a traitor.”

Some reports indicate that Israel invaded after the two soldiers were kidnapped. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Israel had information that the Lebanese guerrillas who captured the two Israeli soldiers were trying to transfer them to Iran. Comment on this article at our Forum

Western nations are divided over the conflict. The European Union criticized the Israeli response saying "The European Union is greatly concerned about the disproportionate use of force by Israel in Lebanon in response to attacks by Hezbollah on Israel. The presidency deplores the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The imposition of an air and sea blockade on Lebanon cannot be justified."

Israel says they are not trying to hit civilian targets, but Martin Fletcher of NBC News reported that Israeli artillery is firing shells at least 80 miles into Lebanon. The accuracy is questionable do to the long distances the shells travel.