Misleading Headline of the Day
Aussie Dave | Aug 16, 2006 | 12 comments
Ok, it is actually from yesterday but I have not been online for over a day, so cut me some slack (hat tip: Dafna).
Reading this, you would be forgiven for thinking that Israel had broken the ceasefire by firing rockets into Lebanon. That is, until you actually read the article.
Highlighting the fragility of the peace, Hezbollah guerrillas fired at least 10 Katyusha rockets that landed in southern Lebanon early Tuesday, the Israeli army said, adding that nobody was injured. The army said that none of the rockets, which were fired over a two-hour period, had crossed the border and so it had not responded.
For the record, I believe the terms of this ceasefire are terrible, and I am still shaking my head wondering how the Israeli government could have agreed to it. Perhaps I will get around to a more lengthy post on this topic, or even a podcast.
So much to say, so little time.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
I look forward to hearing/reading what else you have to say about the ceasefire, Aussie Dave. I can say that as a North American supporter of Israel, I have never been more disheartened. The way I saw it, here were Israel’s goals at the commencent of the war: 1) Secure the release of the two kidnapped soldiers; 2) Kill Nasrallah; 3) Eliminate Hezbollah’s ability to launch rockets into Israel; and 4) Destroy Hezbollah’s military capability altogether.
Near as I can tell, it accomplished none of these goals and then accepted the terms of a ceasfire which essentially told the world that it had lost. Now, Hezbollah’s prestige has never been higher. The same is true for Iran and Syria. Israel’s conversely, has never been lower.
I must be crazy, but I am actually hoping that the arabs will be true to form and break the cease fire sooner rather than later.
Its wrong to wish for that, but in this case, with these terms, and these people, what else can one hope for?
All the UN has done is ensure that this will be played out again and again.
I don’t think the terms of the U.N resolution are bad. I think the fact that it is a U.N. resolution is the problem.
Hezbulah and Lebanon have already reneged on the agreement for disarming Hezbulah. The UNIFIL forces will in reality only act as shields for Hezbulah activity, and be a deterrent for Israel when response to terrorist aggression is needed. Putting our trust in Kofi Annan is not very smart. He’s the same guy who stands in silence in memory of Palestinian terrorists that have died. Oh, I forgot, they are not terrorists when Jews are the victims.
Stan
The post says: “For the record, I believe the terms of this ceasefire are terrible, and I am still shaking my head wondering how the Israeli government could have agreed to it.”
I agree. It seems that the resolution doesn’t protect Israeli interests very well. It leaves too much to the descretion of the government of Lebanon.
The resolution “Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory . . . so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of Lebanon…”
The resolution calls for “– no sales or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon except as authorized by its Government;” and “Calls upon the Government of Lebanon to secure its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel”
And it “Decides further that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent, … [supplying military hardware training etc] …except that these prohibitions shall not apply to arms, related material, training or assistance authorized by the Government of Lebanon…”
All this consent by the Government of Lebanon is meaningless since the Government is a hostage to Hezbullah because the Lebanese army is inferior to Hezballah and includes many sympathesizers of Hezbullah.
The resolution does call for “– full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559…” But since it has become clear that neither Lebanon nor UNIFIL will take responsibility for ensuring Hezballah is disarmed, and since under this resolution, Hezballah can keep its weapons if it has the approval of Lebanese governamet, it is not possible to see how 1559 will ever be implemented, or how the resolution will bring about the disarmament of Hezbullah.
All the talk about not going back to the status quo ante was just talk, there is no means for bringing about a significant change.
Israel and the US were so focused on stopping hostilities, that they seem to have neglected the long term ramifications of the terms of the cease fire. All parties (US, Lebanon, Hezballah, Syria, and Iran) wanted a cease fire so the meager terms for stopping the hostilities were sufficient for that. And, while on the surface everyone thought the resolution looked very favorable to Israel, and it “authorizes UNIFIL to take all necessary action…”, for the longer term the resolution is not sufficient to enforce the disarming or prevent rearming of Hezbullah.
I was watching fox this moring and they were showing cars and people returning to S. Lebanon.
The camera came upon a line of men, all looking to be in their early twentys to thirty something. Carrying nothing, almost walking in step.
What do you think they were? Young farmers, out of work village guys?
I know what I think.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
I think this StrategyPage article may be close to the mark.
Key graf:
The Israeli strategy appears to be to allow the UN deal to self-destruct. If the UN peacekeepers can disarm Hizbollah, fine. If not, Israeli ground troops will come back in and clear everyone out of southern Lebanon. At that point, it will be obvious that no one else is willing, or able, to deal with the outlaw “state-within-a-state” that Hizbollah represents. Hizbollah will still exist after being thrown out of southern Lebanon, and it will be up to the majority of Lebanese, and the rest of the Arab world, to deal with Hizbollah and radical Shias.
This US Citzen is firmly behind you. I hope for peace but know the terroist know no such word and hide behind it when they are getting destoryed on the field. I hope other countries start to see this war on terror and clearly as isreal and the United States. I look foward to your article on this topic
Brian
Fla USA
You better think about where you can move to away from the Middle East.
G_d has forsaken your people. In every other war Israel has been in since 1948 G_d has blessed your people with miracles to help you win, but not this war.
Why?
I believe it’s because of the tolerance that has been seen in your nation for homosexuality, BSDM, and other immoral behavior.
Chronicles 24:20
New International Version (NIV)
20 Then the Spirit of G_d came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what G_d says: ‘Why do you disobey the LORD’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’
god bless hisballah, i love them, i hope they defeat the infidel zionists.
has anyone got the transcript of this interview that Bibi did with several bloggers?
http://www.israpundit.com/2006/?p=2351
May g-d wipe the earth of all you raghead terrorist motherfuckers.
You’ll be hoping for along time the only reason israel Didn’t wipe Hizboulah from the face of the earth is becuase of the u.n if it wasn;t for them you a-Holes would have had to put your head between your legs and kiss your a– Goodbye you guys prove again with your comments israel wants peace you want to kill them
if you take terroist weapons away you have peace you take the Jewish people weapons you have a Slaughter.
Brian
FLA USA
Proud to be American and Ally of Israel