St Petersburg - Tony Blair has always been an interventionist Prime Minister. From Bosnia to Iraq, Sierra Leone to Afghanistan, he has committed British troops to more conflict zones than any other modern Prime Minister.

The Outcome of this G8 Summit in Russia may be that an international force - though probably not with a significant contingent from Britain's military - may soon find themselves in harms' way along the Israeli Lebanese border.

Last night's unanimous statement from the leaders meeting was tentative: "We extend to the government of Lebanon our full support...this includes the deployment of Lebanese forces to all parts of the country, in particular the South, and the disarming of militias. We would welcome the examination by the UN Security Council of the possibility of an international security/monitoring presence."

By this morning however Mr Blair was much more categorical as he appeared alongside the UN Secretary General who has now arrived for the "outreach" session, including reperesentatives from other big countries and multilateral organisations."The only way we are going to get a cessation of hostilities is by the deployment of an international force." The Prime Minister declared, "it isn't going to stop now", rejecting cals for an immediate ceasefire. Kofi Annan was equally supportive calling for the commitment of "well trained, well equipped troops that can go in quite quickly" to be discussed at UNHQ later in the week.

Broadly speaking the idea appears to be that fighting between Israel and Hizbollah in Lebanon will continue for another week or so. Once that is exhausted an international force would go in to "police", "stabilize", "monitor" (all words have been used) the border between southern Lebanon and northern Israel to ensure that there are no further incursions or terror attacks across the border into Israel.

In fact there has been a United Nations force in Lebanon since 1978. UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. This did not in face take place until 2000. Currently there are 1,991 UN troops in UNIFIL from countries including China, France, Ghana, India and Italy. Interestingly UNIFIL's mandate runs out at the end of this month.

The force could now find itself re-deployed, this time more to protect the Israelis against Hizbollah attack. But sources say "we are talking thousands of troops" if the new force is to be able to police Southern Lebanon effectively.

It is not expected that British or American troops will make a contirbution to any UN force because their presence might be seen as "a provocation", especially to Moslems angry about the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. But since Mr Blair has been one of the driving forces behind the idea, apparently managing to persuade a reluctant President Putin - Britain will doubless have to commit moral and practical support to the venture.

The Americans and French have particularly painful memories of earlier attempts to intervene in Lebanon. In 1983 241 US were killed in a suicide bomb attack on their barracks in Beirut. 58 French troops died in a similar attack that year.

In the meantime of course the men and women of Britain's armed forces are being deployed on active service in the region to prepare for a possible evacuation of British citizens court up in the fighting. Already two British Navy ships are steaming to the region, and now Mr Blair is talking about a possible "air-bridge out" as well. The British also "helped" European envoy Javier Solana visit Beirut over the weekend.

Comments

[Lyn from Lincolnshire 1 Aug 2006 22:02:25]

Israel should get out of Palestine, this issue has to be resolved before any hope of peace can follow. Once this is done, the Extremists have lost a major excuse for their acts of war. The west should then keep their noses out, trying to force our values on other countries will only bring conflict and lets not forget how the West chooses which countries they are going to interfere with. Do they tell China for instance that they must embrace our values?

[loren taylor/zurich, switzerland 30 Jul 2006 09:02:05]

To Jay:

A cat living in an oven is not a biscut-it's still a cat. I'll be an African-American no matter how long I live in Europe. I make it a point to identify myself as such to remind people that America, like most nations, are diverse, with many different types of people. I was on the receiving end of much hostility from Europeans at the start of the Iraq war-they assumed because I was American, I supported the war.

Europeans also assume that because I'm American, I support the idea of the U.S. military acting as the world's policeman. It is not the responsibility or right of any nation to act as enforcer for a particular ideaology or point of view, especially in a foreign land. If being a "plain American" means telling the rest of the world how they should live, then I'll continue to use the term "African-American".

[Jay USA 29 Jul 2006 01:30:06]

Hezbolla is or was firing rockets into Israel from a position very near a UN post ! The UN troops were playing volley ball ! Who but the Americans and the British are going to fight these ''nut jobs'' ? The French ,the Germans ? FAT CHANCE!!!??? To Loren in Switzerland , Shouldn't you now be an African-Swiss rather than African American? You would think after 15 years,huh ? I'm not an Anglo Saxon -American, I'm just a plain American.

[Noel Ireland 26 Jul 2006 19:28:12]

I AM A EX MEMBER OF THE IRISH DEFENCE FORCES WHO SEVRED WITH U.N.I.F.I.L
THE FORCES JOB WAS TO WATCH AND REPORT
BOTH SIDES.
IT IS NOT EASY TO STOP A 50 TON TANK WITH LIGHT ARMOUR AND RIFELS.
I STILL THINK UNIFIL DONE A GOOD JOB
26 IRISH UNIFIL SOLDIERS.PAID WITH THEIR LIVES.

[Geoff, Peterborough 25 Jul 2006 14:34:20]

Where would peackeepers come from?

NATO? Would you trust the Dutch after Sbrenicia? Belgium - they tried to extend their own war crimes laws to countries, specifically Israel. Spain and Italy both did a runner from Iraq they would do the same if shot at in Lebanon and shot at they will be.

Africa? Has not done a very good job on its own home territory.

Turkey? Used to be the imperial power in the region. Would they be welcomed back?

Muslim countries? No way.

S. America? Any track record?

The real problem is that peace keepers can only operate if both parties want them to. Would Hezboallah accept their presence or just attack them?

[shaun essex 24 Jul 2006 21:13:37]

it seems the lebanese govt has been lieing about not knowing that hizbollah were going to abduct idf troops,the poor innocent govt caught in the middle...i think not ..tut tut

Nasrallah: I Told Lebanese Political Leaders We Would Abduct Israeli Soldiers

On July 24, 2006, Al-Jazeera TV aired an interview with Hizbullah
Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.

"I Told Them [Lebanese Political Leaders] That We Must Resolve the Issue of
the Prisoners, and That the Only Way to Resolve it is by Abducting Israeli
Soldiers"

Interviewer: "Did you inform them that you were about to abduct Israeli
soldiers?"

Hassan Nasrallah: "I told them that we must resolve the issue of the
prisoners, and that the only way to resolve it is by abducting Israeli
soldiers."

Interviewer: "Did you say this clearly?"

Hassan Nasrallah: "Yes, and nobody said to me: 'No, you are not allowed to
abduct Israeli soldiers.'

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=30260

[peter a glasgow 24 Jul 2006 17:38:45]

the U.N is no use ,we can all sit in a foreign land get a sun tan and do nothing when needed and the U.N cant do anthing if america doesnt like it...
the answer to the israel problem lies with the arab nations,turn off the oil tap and they will soon get a lasting deal.....

[Steven, Cape Town, South Africa 24 Jul 2006 13:29:20]

Forget about sending Condi to broker a peace deal. The only person who has a remote chance is Oprah. Send her instead !

[Rita 24 Jul 2006 13:18:44]

Well I can see where Mike is coming from what a nasty person!
Assume he doesn't go to church.

[Bruce Hulmes / England 23 Jul 2006 16:50:47]

Ther appears to be a great many people in the Lebanon with dual nationality?.

[John United Kingdom 22 Jul 2006 12:27:21]

Why is there a compulsion in the media, to attribute the current situation in Lebanon with the capture (military personnel are not kidnapped) of the three Israeli soldiers?
Their capture is not the cause, but is a symptom of a wider problem.Another sympton is the arrogance of the US supported by the British Government, or more accurately, Tony Blair, when refusing to call on Israel to cease its dis proportionate use of force against the infrastructure of Lebanon.Yet another symptom is the insistance of Israel that they are defending their borders against terrorists. The statement by Condolesa Rice that we are "going to reshape the Middle East" can only fuel an already volatile situation.
Now matter how much the government of the US and Gt. Britain try to distort history and facts, the problem is and will always remain, the illegal occupation of Arab territories and Palestine, by Israel.
There seems to be a collective guilty conscience in some parts of the west about the treatment of Jews during the Hollocaust and the Israeli's are quick to play the Hollocaust card whenever criticism of their actions is voiced.
Israel should return to the pre 1967 boarders (pre 1948 would be even better) and then there might just be a basis for negotiations on a complete Middle Esat settlement.
However, this clearly would not be in American interests, or in the long term plans of the Neoconservatives and their Jewish financiers. Israel can do no wrong. America is always right. Blair will always follow the American lead (no matter where it takes Gt. Britain and it's people).

[loren taylor/zurich, switzerland 21 Jul 2006 23:38:46]

To Mike: Incredible. As much as I'm opposed to present Israeli government policy, it's people like you that keeps Israelis in a constant state of fear & paranoia.

I'm an African-American living in Europe for the last 15 years. I once visited Israel on a business trip. After only one day in Tel Aviv, I was overcome with an impression that while I couldn't pretend to know all the complexities, I could feel in an instance what motivated the establishment of a Jewish state.

I telephoned my father. "Dad," I said, "the racism we've experienced is terrible, but this is a whole 'nother thing."

"What do you mean?" he replied. "You know how much Black people have suffered."

"Yeah, I know. But this is different. Racism against us is more out of ignorance, out of selfishness and feelings of superiority. But people really hate the Jews. HATE them. The Nazis weren't b-s-ing. They wanted to exterminate the Jews. Like they were rats or something. And you know what?"

"What."

"Alot of people around the world still feel that way. It scares me."

And the saddest part is that with each passing day, the victims become the oppressors.

[Jay , USA 21 Jul 2006 19:45:40]

Send in the peace keepers !!!??? If the UN had been doing its job we wouldn't be having this conversation ! Its a glaring example of just how ineffectual the UN really is ! I certainly would not want to rely on the UN for my safety. To MIke , dude your are wound way too tight !

[Gerard P 21 Jul 2006 18:14:31]

Susan, How indeed would the British government behave if the IRA had turned Northern Ireland into a vast arsenal of weapons with countless thousands of short to long range missiles hidden underground, with a habit of kidnapping Britishers and launching those missiles over Britain. Let us regress back to September 7, 1940 when German bombers first bombed London. Following that first atack Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the bombing of Berlin. Also we recall other allied bombing of German cities such as Hamburg and Dresden.
Those us who live in the free world have no doubt who was the aggressor in those days, just as we know who are true aggressors in the Lebanon, those that turn her into a base of terrorism against the citizens of its southern neighbour.

[mike 20 Jul 2006 14:28:39]

I think israel needs to be moved to somewhere in europe. Probably Aldolf hitler was a good man. The problem is to do with the false biblical translation that is holding the whole world as hostages for the devine rights of the jews. Why keep over 10,000 prisoners from other nations in your country? what is the motive behind this?The 23 tons of bombs droped yesterday was supplied by America. The F16's were supplied by America..........Why cant Iran or Syria help Hizbolah? What u dont know is the fact that level headed people are turning against you because of your double standards......Arab blood is blood, so is American blood

[Janet - Spain 20 Jul 2006 11:10:40]

Hi there - in response to Claire "The Lebanese civilians being killed are only Arabs" Actually as any true Lebanese will tell you they are Phonoecian and very proud of their heritage. Culturaly they brought many good things into our civilisation including the Alphabet which maybe Mr Bush should learn so he can give better covert speeches. But in Texas where he comes from all Arabs are known as sand - niggers - so does he really give a hoot whether they kill each other off. I love Lebanon having lived and married there. I will one day go back there to live - I have family getting out of there right now on the Bulwark - but we will not give up. We have rebuilt before and we will rebuild again.

I don't know what is behind this tirade - but I just wish it would stop. The Lebanese never wanted this war or any of the others before it. They have never invaded anyone - it was their airport that was bombed in 1968 - why does Israel pick on the smallest everytime something happens to them.

[EILEEN, NORTHAMPTON 19 Jul 2006 18:03:40]

IM SICK OF PRESIDENT BUSH BLAMMING OTHERE PEOPLE FOR GETING INVOLVED WITH THESE WARS IN THE MIDDLE EAST,WHO IS PRESIDENT BUSH,HE SUPPLIED IRAQ AND PUNISHED THEM SOON AS THEY ENTERED KUWAIT,AND HES DOING THE SAME TO LEBANON,HE SUPPLIED IRAQ WITH WEAPONS AND HE DONE THE SAME FOR ISRAEL,BUT BLAMES OTHERS
AINT IT ABOUT TIME THE U.S.A STOPPED SUPLYING.IT MAKES ME SICK ALL THIS RUBBISH ABOUT ISRAEL DOING THE RIGHT STUFF KILLING INACIENT CITIZENS,

[Brian Christley - North wales 19 Jul 2006 14:50:26]

At long last we understand Blair’s Middle East ‘Road Map’ – Lebanon to Cyprus, Cyprus to Britain!

[Jim Mansfield 19 Jul 2006 14:38:20]

Fluffy:
Do you practice at being stupid or does it come natural?
Jim Mansfield.

[Effie 19 Jul 2006 14:35:03]

Mo Lebanon:
Not only the worlds "only Super Power" my dear, most of the UK and the free world also.
One fact you forgot Mo, the day that the Islamic Terrorist bombed the Twin Towers put the whole of the free world against them.
No matter what is happening in Palestine or Lebanon, everybody sees Hezbollah and Hammas as cowardly, murdering thugs. They will always take the Israeli side and support them.
The twin towers were when these terrorist organisations met their Waterloo, this will cloud people's judgement forever. These fanatics done their cause a great dis-service bombing those towers.
Also please remember Iran and Syria have not got very clean hands regarding this lot either.
Sorry Mo, you are very much in the minority on this subject, never-the-less you make a valid point in a well written article and I do respect your point of view, even although I do not agree with it.
So sorry your beautiful Country is being bombed to hell, I mean that sincerely.

[Gerhard Adendorff South Africa 19 Jul 2006 14:24:37]

Hi

First a couple of statements.

I put it very short and you can make it look good. Please I am actually
Dutch. Correct my spelling.

1. Israel is one of Jordan's biggest bussiness partners. Why no war? They
are Muslim arent they.

2, Egypt and the Saudi's have a relasionship with Israel in buss as well as
other grounds; why no war.
It is actually obivious.

3. A special envoy of UN specialists, if you can call them that meet with
Arab states in Egypt. At that time 63 lebanese died. I am sure the UN have
some creed or resolution on how and where they stop wars etc. As ex police
officer the first main law for us was 1. prevention of crime (UN case
prevention of war or deaths) 2. saving of peoples live's and only nr 3.
investigation and bring criminals to court. With the UN it seem's to be the
other way around. first people die then the UN will react. Why did they not
implement this Lebanese border resolution's. Then I would like to know why,
they are suddenly jumping at the Middle East. In South Africa, where I live
more people has died from violence and murder, now and in the past then any
other war that was ever fought in history or now in the world. In 30 years I
have not seen anything special envoy. While I am typing this. Every 4 secons
a car gets robbed(by gun), every 4 min a woman gets raped and then 9/10 most
probably killed. 57 000 people die by gun only per year in this country. I
was manager of the MIBS department of the police responsible for statistics.
The above figures is 1996 when I was an employee. Since the government has
banned the public placing of crime staistics. I want to ask an UN official
this.

4. Why is Israel attacking Gaza and Lebanon and not Egypt and Jordan, also
their neighbours. Would like to hear this from Israeli official.

5. Questions I would like to ask Iran, Six months ago the President of Iran
promissed Israel in public that their day is coming very shortly. Now Israel
is under attack and Gaza and Lebanon is under attack from the Israeli's.
What I want to ask is the following? 1. Why do they not first supply these
militants(Hizbollah) with proper army clothes, before they supply the
weapons. It would give Israel the destinction of what is civilian and what
is military. The way it is going now, they are selling out there own poeple.
Why is Iran not coming to the front? Are they scared of Israel? Is the
Leader of Iran more of an gang leader and mafia leader than a real honest
leader? He openly said that he wants israel demolished. Is this the way he
is going to do it. Can he not step forward and deal with Israel himself? I
think he knows that he would be at the locsing end. It would like to hear
comments on the air from an Iranian official, I know the leader himself will
not attend to your phone call, he will not be able to answer you. When he
holds his public speaches, is see a lot of poeple yes. But I see jobless
poor people. I do not see bussiness people and his parlement people chearing
him. Those missiles that he shows on TV passing by in 40 year old trucks.
With my limited mil background, it is clear to me that they are Mock Ups
and not the real thing. The are even strapped to the back of the truck and
not really sitting in any distinct bracket or something for a supposedly
such an expensive item. What does this Irannian official think of this.
Again, why can Iran not come to the front and see there destination. Why do
they use non militant civilians to hide behind.
I want to make this statement to the Iranian official. this is the only way
they can fight a war. They do not have the strengt to see Israel face to
face.

6. Another topic is: Should the rest of the world not sort out Iran now and
the let the oil price shoot up and then later stabilze, than to be held
hostage over the pricing of oil for the years to come.

I have many more Questions and thinkings. I wish I was in the middle east
myself working and reporting for Sky.

What do you think of my views.
Wating to hear from you.

Regards
Gerhard Adendorff
+27-733686645

[Rita 19 Jul 2006 09:56:01]

So in the midst of the present crisis all Sky News can do is wheel out Terry Waite, suffering from the 'Stockholm' syndrom.

Graves who thinks he still has an opinion about the situation - he never did like those Israeli's thumping the poor militants.

The constant media attention of the crying and the weaping of the Lebanese people, and those now fleeing the crisis (courtesy of the Israeli's). Let's not forget last week these very same people were screaming their delight that two Israeli soldiers had been taken.

The solution is easy, give back the solders (from Gaza and Lebanon - if they are still alive) Move the Hiz. 12 miles back from the border - and disarm them)

Please let us not forget the Lebanese government are also to blame for their own mess. They have allowed a terriorist organisation to remain in their positions taking pot shots at the Israeli's whenever they feel like it. Two Hiz. members are in the Government, (who are pro-Syrians) otherwise why did they invited Syria in - and a once beautiful country has been put back 20/40 years.

Meanwhile Iran is laughing instead of dealing with them at the Security Council, the prominent members sat on their hands.

Let us not forget the whole raison d etre is to ensure that the world bows down to the Muslim extremist religious domination. The moderate Muslim's no doubt want peace like the rest of us.

When are the world governments going to act -who said 'the lights are going out all over Europe'.

[Ben Decatur, Alabama, USA 19 Jul 2006 01:44:44]

What Claire E from Bristol is saying is she beleives terrorists should be ignored. She believes terrorists have been provaked. Well let me say that before 9-11, there was no provaking. If we should stop going after the terrorists then we should stop hunting and arresting our own criminals. Its the same thing. I applaud Israel for standing up for its self. Oh and about the stupid comment Claire E said about if it was the US being attacked then he would be so calm. I think its funny how liberals like Claire E bash the US for getting involved in foreign affairs, but then bash them when they dont. Israel can handle the situation themselves and Lebanon should have eliminated Hezbollah a long time ago. The center of the problem is terrorists and the nations who do nothing about them like Lebanon and well France. Everyone thinks the US should be the world police force, but them condemns us when we get involved. Stupid liberal hypocrites.

[fluffy 18 Jul 2006 20:57:14]

Where are the Blairs?

Going on holiday, whilst screwing the English tax-payer; Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sheiks, and Christians. If the [Scum-Scottish] M.o.D. wish to send to Beruit the Royal Princes in the place of the Bliars, I will happily join them!

Tony Blair is the Anti-Christ! Better dead then Marxist-read!!! Why else is he not a Catholic - afraid of the Holy-Water?

God, England, and Her Majesty, The Queen!

"When the ['Lord'] "Levy" breaks, Tony's cronies will 'quake!"

(Thanks, and respect to the 'Zep.'!)

Come-on the [well, what the Scot's have left of HM (English)] Royal Navy!] I-Pods, not defensive systems: How Scottish New Labour!

[C/Cllr. Gerry Freedman 18 Jul 2006 20:13:01]

I am becoming ever more convinced that the BBC is becoming even more extreme in its anti-Israeli outlook, if that is possible. With its constant anti-Israeli positioning, I feel that it is starting to be seen to promote, through its biased ‘news’ reports, the flames anti-Semitism.

The left wing, and those covert anti-Semites, within the British media, who couch their hatred of Jews through the convenience of being anti-Israel, are deliberately missing the real facts of this Hezbollah created crisis!

The fact is that the Hezbollah has killed Israeli soldiers, has crossed into Israel, and ignored, and did not respect Israel's internationally recognised border.

The fact also remains, that the Lebanese Government, so afraid of the Hezbollah, refuses, or simply cant, implement Security resolution 1559 that specifically says that the Lebanese must disarm, and remove Hezbollah from Southern Lebanon.

The fact is that this failure has lead, and has allowed, the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers, and has allowed these terrorists, for that is what they are, to fire over 1,500 rockets into Israel, and has killed – currently, 24 innocent civilians.

So we are left with one hell of a fire!

The difference between the action that Israel takes and that of the Hezbollah, is that the Hezbollah hide their weapons stash in civilian areas to ensure that when Israel retaliates, after their citizens have been indiscriminately attacked, the Hezbollah gain maximum press coverage from unthinking and sensationalist journalists, who have a hatred of Israel.

What does the world want?

Does it want Israel to allow its people to die? To be taken away and killed? Did that not happen to Jewish people in the Shoah?

As for the French, it is a bit rich for them to scream about restraint. Someone with a less charitable disposition would say that they are very used to restraint themselves in that it was they that sat back as Paris was taken by the Nazis.

I have a very sneaky suspicion that anything that involves the American administration taking a position on some matter of policy, the French have a perverse need to take the opposite policy alternative just to be difficult, and to snub the USA and UK.

Perhaps, that's why, when the USA and UK agree on anything, Chirac always disagrees?

Oh, and what about the Rainbow warrior, what restraint was exercised there?

Other than military strikes, what could Israel do?

When will this endless, biased pro-Arab propaganda stop? When will we have proper coverage of this conflict, which at the moment seems to only come from News International titles? Not only is this anti-Israeli position rather vulgar, and a mask for anti-Jewish feeling, but also it stinks of something that is devised to, and could promote and help, those with a more sinister agenda.

Why is it we see pictures of Arab children but we don't see the bodies of Israeli Jews, Arabs, Bedouin, Druze who are killed? I feel this is just for extra emotional impact, designed to be against Israel.

Everyone needs to take a balanced view on this issue in articles and it's reporting. As a first step in that balanced approach, the publication of this would help to establish the real facts of what has, and is happening in the Middle East.

Can we have some fair and balanced coverage, for once, PLEASE!

Gerry Freedman
Community Councillor
13/13 Cadiz Street
Edinburgh
EH6 7BJ

[Effie 18 Jul 2006 20:03:37]

Susan:
I think you have your facts wrong about women and children in Israeli jails.
Please also realise that the male prisoners Israel holds in prisons there are some of the most murdering treacherous so-in-so that ever drew a breath.
Susan it is heartbreaking that innocent people are caught up and killed during this crisis, but try to understand this:
Hezbollah deliberately place rockets and weapon dumps in thickly populated areas, that is a fact, they use their own innocent population as human shields. They do not give a Monkey's about human life and suffering, it is cheap to them.
Israel cannot allow them them to gain an inch or they will take a yard.
All Israel wants is her young men back, if they don't make a stand it would become worse.
I wish people would understand that the Jew learned a lot from WW2 and never again would they take everything that was dished out to them under Nazi Germany lying down, they suffered far too much and were almost wiped out as a race.
Go onto the next thread named "Bush and Blair raw and uncut" and just read a comment made by one despicable piece of humanity called David Shoeman, his comments are disgusting, never-the-less Jews get this day in day out, it is not fair.
Please try and watch all the chapters in the "The World at War" series and also try and obtain a book by Lord Russel of Liverpool called "the Scourge of the Swastika" after reading the book and watching the series you will then understand why Israel has to defend her Country to the limits.
Incidentally, I am christian I do not have any Jewish friends or relations but I do admire their tenacity under the most adverse of conditions.

[Effie 18 Jul 2006 20:01:47]

Susan:
I think you have your facts wrong about women and children in Israeli jails.
Please also realise that the male prisoners Israel holds in prisons there are some of the most murdering treacherous so-in-so that ever drew a breath.
Susan it is heartbreaking that innocent people are caught up and killed during this crisis, but try to understand this:
Hezbollah deliberately place rockets and weapon dumps in thickly populated areas, that is a fact, they use their own innocent population as human shields. They do not give a Monkey's about human life and suffering, it is cheap to them.
Israel cannot allow them them to gain an inch or they will take a yard.
All Israel wants is her young men back, if they don't make a stand it would become worse.
I wish people would understand that the Jew learned a lot from WW2 and never again would they take everything that was dished out to them under Nazi Germany lying down, they suffered far too much and were almost wiped out as a race.
Go onto the next thread named "Bush and Blair raw and uncut" and just read a comment made by one despicable piece of humanity called David Shoeman, his comments are disgusting, never-the-less Jews get this day in day out, it is not fair.
Please try and watch all the chapters in the "The World at War" series and also try and obtain a book by Lord Russel of Liverpool called "the Scourge of the Swastika" after reading the book and watching the series you will then understand why Israel has to defend her Country to the limits.
Incidentally, I am christian I do not have any Jewish friends or relations but I do admire their tenacity under the most adverse of conditions.

[Mo, Lebanon 18 Jul 2006 17:12:23]

Effie, very funny post and totally unknowledgeable of the situation in the Middle East:

"Israel is fighting for her very survival"
Yes, $3 billion a year of military hardware, more than the combined spend of all its neighbours, they really are in danger arent they? And in order to survive they need to endlessly kill civilians do they? And when the US supports any and everything you do, it must be so hard.

"that little country is surrounded on all fronts by fanatical Islamic Fundamentalists"

If Hamas and Hizbollah are considered to "surround" Israel then you must be very agraphobic.

"all they ask for is to be recognised and live in peace with their neighbours in the region"

Thats not all they ask for. They also ask their neighbours to be weak, not fight back and sign treaties imposed on them rarther than fair and just accords. Oh, and while theyre at it, could they ask for enough land to make a viable Palestinian state untenable. Oh and control of all borders and supply of water.

"Iran has already said they want Israel wiped off the face of the earth they do not recognise Israel's right to exist"

And they don't have a right to an opinion? Are people only allowed opinion you personally authorise?

"Just answer this question:
Name one time when the Israeli's bombed without provacation?

1956- Sinai
1967- 6 Day War
1982 - Invasion of Lebanon(supposed provocation the attempted assasination of an Israeli Ambassador...IN LONDON) including overseeing the massacre of Palestinian refugees in Sabra and Chatilla and the killing of over 10,000 civilians
1982-2000 -Including the 1996 Grapes of Wrath, constant shelling of Lebanon,including the massacre of over 100 civilians hiding in a UN compound, including dropping booby-trapped toys for children to pick up.

"Israel did not instigate this carnage"
For over a year Hezbollah has been asking for the release of Lebanese men who Israel has kidnapped.

"this is coming from demented politicians, mad Mullahs ,Immams who should know better and ought to be speaking out against what is happening and reminding these people that the Koran teaches peace."

You will find that even the Israeli military do not regard Hizbullah as demented or mad. And the Koran also teaches you to stand up to opressors and those who wish to force you to bow to them.

"We had enough savvy to realise that the Irish problem was caused by bigots on both sides.Six of one and half a dozen of the other."

Whereas in this case Israel isnt bigoted. Just a murdering war criminal responsible for more civilian deaths in the last 25 years than all the the so called 'terrorists' in Lebanon and Palestine put together.
But thats ok, they're just a poor little country trying to get by with the worlds only superpower as its protector.

[Susan, Canada 18 Jul 2006 15:34:29]

Just one more comment from a Canadian perspective....On the weekend 7 Canadians were killed by Israelis bombing homes in a village south of Beirut while on summer holidays. All were from one family including 4 children ages 1-7 and their mother. Other family members were critically injured. The Israeli Ambassador to Canada was on TV this morning, but could not guarantee Israel would stop bombing long enough to let foreign nationals leave the country safely (!). In essence he said - its not our fault if Hezbollah wants to keep up the aggression. The family is trying to plead with Canadian government to stop the bombing long enough for tourists to get out of the country.

[Susan, Canada 18 Jul 2006 15:08:53]

Thanks. Effie. I realised after I posted the comment on IRA that there are many more differences than similarities between the 2 conflicts. I disagree the media is biased against Israel. The original reason that the soldiers were captured has not often been broadcast, i.e for the release of hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children held in Israeli jails.

[Carol, Kent 18 Jul 2006 10:52:48]

How come Israel is being critisised for killing innocents while under direct provacation but it was alright for us to go into Iraq with no provacation at all?? Oh yes oil, silly me.
BTW why is the media coverage of the latest middle east crisis so biased against Israel, just because we have lost our teeth and let militants walk all over us doesn't mean the rest of the world has to.

[Effie 18 Jul 2006 10:41:15]

Patricia Jarrow:
10/10 for that one, I really liked it, it reminds me of "Peeing in the Wind" or in other words getting your own back.
Cheers Effie.

[James, Leeds 18 Jul 2006 10:06:08]

At present there is no place for peace-keeping troops as there is NO peace. Israel is giving the Hezbollah a beating so why the rush for a ceasefire?

I've actually just seen Keith Graves on SKY NEWS and couldn't believe my ears. He was basicly championing the Hezbollah and going on about how Israel is bogged down and looking for a way out. Nothing could be further from the truth as if that was the case the Israelis would more than welcome a cease-fire. Keith Graves has spent his career attacking Israel so is obviously a little rattled at Israel's military might. He claims the Israelis were forced into this and the timing is wrong when in reality, although they have indeed been dragged into this the timing couldn't have come at a better time and IDF officers are indeed speaking of an excellent window of opportunity to smash the Hezbollah.

[Claire E, Bristol. U.K 17 Jul 2006 23:49:12]

I wonder if Bush would be so calm if the U.S Was attacked in retaliation to all the prisoners being held in Guantanamo without trial for years on end, oh yeah it doesent matter to Bush, The Lebanese civilans being killed are only Arabs, Big deal to Bush. Israel is breeding terrorism amongst desperate and angry arab civilians, and causing world wide terror and Bush and Blair should be ashamed of themselves for not putting the blame on Israel.

[Victor, NW Kent 17 Jul 2006 23:08:12]

I can't believe it - I agree with Effie. The plight of the Palestinians is originally of their own making - or more properly of their leaders. Arabs and other Muslims have been agressors against Israel on many, many occasions and will carry on fighting the battles of 1948 until 2048 or beyond. Eventually terrorism becomes a profession and those who live by it shun the idea of resolving the conflict as they would lose their jobs. This simple fact kept the IRA going for a very long time until they reallsied that they could draw good salaries from pretending to take part in government. It sustains Hizbollah and most other such gangs.
However, Britain and Israel do not have completely clean hands in this whole history. I was at Suez in 1956 when Britain, France and Israel embarked on a course of miltary adventurism against Egypt. Right back then Britain was trying to cause regime change and Israel joined in as a matter of course.

[Patricia. Jarrow. Tyne and Wear. 17 Jul 2006 22:08:10]

I totally agree with you Effie and I doubt anything I have to say could add to this vexed subject ,except to wonder---how do you suppose Omar Bakteria Mohammed is now enjoying his sojourn in Lebanon?

[Effie 17 Jul 2006 21:28:52]

Yes Susan, we can all recall the IRA bombings, the difference between Israel and us is this:
Israel is fighting for her very survival, that little country is surrounded on all fronts by fanatical Islamic Fundamentalists, we were not.
I feel heart sorry for these Israeli's all they ask for is to be recognised and live in peace with their neighbours in the region.
Iran has already said they want Israel wiped off the face of the earth they do not recognise Israel's right to exist.
We had this in WW2 and we fought back.
So why is it right for us and three quarters of the world to fight back when we were under attack and not the Israeli's?
Just answer this question:
Name one time when the Israeli's bombed without provacation?
Israel did not instigate this carnage, this is coming from demented politicians, mad Mullahs ,Immams who should know better and ought to be speaking out against what is happening and reminding these people that the Koran teaches peace.
We on the other hand could not kill or maim our own people by allowing the RAF to bomb anywhere within the UK and Northern Ireland.
We had enough savvy to realise that the Irish problem was caused by bigots on both sides.
Six of one and half a dozen of the other.
If Israel did not fight back the Country would not survive it is as simle as that.
That is the big difference between us and the plight of the Israeli's

[Margaret Brackett 17 Jul 2006 20:44:47]

I kinda like Mr Putin, calling a spade a ...well spade. No wonder they like him - a mand Mrs T said you could do bizniz with, No Bs, no panhandling, to the point and forcefully holding to his own country's interests.

The UK had to ASK Israel if they could extract the sick, the children from the UK Beirut Embassy - no fighter cover ? What are all those planes doing in Akrotiri ? Well the ones that work or are not cannibalised, waiting for spares etc.,

[ricky stafford 17 Jul 2006 20:28:48]

here we go again.......
let them get on with it. these people just dont understand how to get along. Religion this, religion that. This is my land blah blah. Send in a peace keeping force so both sides can fire at them instead. Which only stalls things until they move out then off we go again. Leave them to it dont risk lives of our troops over a silly squabble over land that 2 sides cant sort out.
Dont even bother reporting on it.

[Lee Southend 17 Jul 2006 19:12:26]

Hiya all
Peace keeping troops? There needs to be a peace 1st and thats not likely with Muslim neighbors.
The best thing would be to surport Israel in there fight for existence.

[esther, London 17 Jul 2006 18:43:45]

Susan, Canada,
Your comments ring true. I too can remember the IRA bombings.

[Susan, Canada 17 Jul 2006 17:13:30]

Growing up in the UK, I remember IRA terrorists blowing up several public locations and killing many civilians. If we had then behaved the way Israel is today, the British Air-Force would have, in retaliation, aerial bombed Belfast's airport, roads, infrastructure and killed countless local civilians- protestants, catholics, tourists alike. In retrospect that sounds ludicrous and barbaric. It's like the episode of the Family Guy where the exterminators come in to rid the house of fleas, and use a shotgun for each flea, there-by putting huge holes all over the house. i.e solves nothing.

[Peter, Fife 17 Jul 2006 11:04:26]

The communiqué of the G8 may be able to exert some pressures on the fighting factions; however most of these “8” members have to preserve their own political positions.
The agreement seems to permit Israel to attack terrorist assets and assets of those who are perceived as supporting these for the next few days until such time as they have been sufficiently damaged, insomuch as their ability to prosecute acts of terrorism will be greatly reduced, then an International force shall police the conflict interfaces.
I accept that there are ill feelings towards Britain and America over their leading participation in the creation of the State of Israel in 1948; that does not permit today’s non Israel factions to claim that what is being proposed is merely further support of Israel; it will require a significant shift in the mindsets of all factions in the Middle East before any true progress to peace can be achieved.
The problems of these peoples of the Middle East are that they are fighting the battles of the past; they refuse to accept they have to shift their mind sets into a negotiating stance suitable for 2006.
All those who oppose Israel almost without exception are guilty of acting against this neighbour or near neighbour, either covertly or overtly; supporting terrorism being one of the most despicable of these forms of support.
Those who support or openly permit these terrorist groups such as Hizbollah to locate within their boundaries, must expect to suffer some form of backlash.

[Patricia. Jarrow. Tyne and Wear. 17 Jul 2006 10:58:29]

Where the hell are we going to find the troops?

[John - Ipswich 17 Jul 2006 10:46:49]

Of what use is an international force if the core problem is not on the agenda. Israel dictates who they will talk with, and many other things. Like it or not, Israel are wrong to imprison ministers of Palestine, and not to recognise that Palestine voted in an authority. Until borders are agreed, Palestine becomes an independant state with self determination a referee only delays the fight. Because the Palestine state will be land divided, they need to have freedom of movement, to be free of harrassment in travel. Have the rights of all to be educated, have medical attention and be economically sound. Unless a foundation of normality is in place for a nation to be built, then the 'moderates' stand no chance against the more extreme.

[white dragon 17 Jul 2006 10:34:32]

absolutely not - its about time this country/government stopped sticking its nose in where it ain't wanted....besides Israel is doing a good enough job sorting out the terrorists !!!

[Mike, Spain 17 Jul 2006 10:28:42]

Do we have to listen to Tony going on again at international forces bla bla bla for middle east, Look Tony get off the world stage roundabout for a bit and let some of the others have a ride.

Other nations have a point of view and Tony sticking his nose in only makes it harder for the others to come on the scene as neutral, otherwise they are seen supporting Bush and Blair.

yes the middle east is a mess. So they wish to bomb themselves back to the stone age again. Is intervention the answer or just let them solve it the way they want to. Very difficult to answer this one.

Itervention in the past usually gets both sides fighting against the occupying army so that they can defeat you then get back to what they started.

Amazing how all these so called religous nations are hell bent on killing each other.

Lost for a solution on this one but the more that join in the worse its going to get which is the bigger fear. We desperatly need a huge potent UN army that is independant of any nation state that can punch into these areas and at least show them that a line has been crossed. Putin may have the answer given the chance and full support.

[Tony A 17 Jul 2006 10:27:27]

Write in haste means spelling mistakes.So lets hope one gets this blog half right.No peacekeeping force,let them fight it out. After all the big fight against the might of Islam is bound to happen sooner or sooner!