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Page last updated
March 14, 2007
Understanding the conflict
page last updated 14 March, 2007
The Lebanon WarThis page carries links to a wide range of material about the Lebanon War.
Materials are arranged vaguely thematically - though there is currently much room for improvement; and there is a fair amount from those who supported the war as well as those who opposed it, so hopefully arguments and debates are presented at their strongest. Many issues are highly controversial - for instance, role of the US in relation to Israel, or of Iran in relation to Hizbullah, let alone the nature of Hizbullah itself.
General sources of information
In addition to Ha'aretz, Ynet News, the Jerusalem Post, the Daily Star (Beirut), Al Ahram (Cairo), Aljazeera, the Electronic Intifada, the following are all worth consulting:
Electronic Lebanon a project from the Electronic Intifada
Israeli Defense Forces: The Official Website
International Solidarity Movement: Lebanon Articles and Sites Round-up
Jewish Telegraphic Agency (an international Zionist news service)
American Taskforce on Palestine news round-up
Open Democracy
Areas and issues
1. JfJfP Statement on the Lebanon War2. Jewish Voice for Peace, USA overview of the Conflict JVP in Depth: After Lebanon
3. War crimes?
a) Human Rights Watch on the Israel - Lebanon Conflict
This Human Rights Watch webpage pulls together all the work done by Human Rights Watch on the latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, including reports, news releases, a Q and A on the hostilities, and opinion articles.
e.g. the 10th August report says that: "The continuing toll of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is enormous and warrants the attention of this special session of the Human Rights Council: hundreds of civilians, many of them children, have been killed, essential infrastructure has been destroyed, and millions of lives have been disrupted. Serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) have been committed by both Israel and Hezbollah."Its page Israel / Palestinian Authority also has material of relevance - in particular Sarah Leah Whitson's reply to Jonathan Cook's How Human Rights Watch Lost Its Way in Lebanon (Counterpunch 7th September 2006) in her article Hezbollah's Rockets and Civilian Casualties (Counterpunch 22nd September).
Kenneth Roth (executive director of HRW) Fog of War Is No Cover for Causing Civilian Deaths Forward 4th August 2006
Philip Weiss Israel Lobby Watch The Nation posted 31st August for 18th September issue
"The struggle for Jewish hearts and minds explains the latest battle in the ideological war over the Middle East: the firestorm over Human Rights Watch’s reports from the Lebanon war."b) Amnesty International Reports
Israel/Lebanon: Israel and Hizbullah must spare civilians: Obligations under International Humanitarian Law of the Parties to the Conflict in Israel and Lebanon
Report of 26th July 2006Lebanon: Deliberate destruction or "collateral damage"? Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure Report of 23rd August 2006
c) ACRI (Association of Civil Rights in Israel)Call on 20th July 2006 to Stop attacks on innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure
Call on 24th July 2006 ACRI protests statements and orders issued by Chief of Staff
Call on 31st July 2006 ACRI calls for state inquiry into Lebanese civilian deaths
d) Israel's use of Cluster Bombs
"Homes, gardens and highways across south Lebanon are littered with unexploded cluster bombs dropped by Israel, the U.N. said Friday, and the U.S. State Department has reportedly launched an investigation."
CNN and others report.Association for Civil Rights in Israel ACRI calls for an investigation into the use of cluster bombs
Ori Nir Senators Seek Curb on Cluster Bombs: Feinstein, Leahy Move After Israeli Strikes 8th September 2006
'sources familiar with the legislation said that it was mainly directed at the recent use of such bombs by Israel in Lebanon.'
4. Israeli peace group statements or debates on the WarGush Shalom (the Israeli Peace Bloc) opposed the war from the start, though the writings of its main spokesperson Uri Avnery and via regular short, punchy ads in Ha'aretz. The ads are found on the Gush Shalom website; Avnery's writings have been collected together here.
Zochrot [Remembrance]
"Our region is engaged in another round of mindless violence. Thousands have abandoned their homes, many of which have been destroyed, and hundreds have been killed. As an organization working to change Jewish public consciousness, we realize that (like in the Nakba of 1948) although Israel is not solely responsible and at fault for the conflict, there is no doubt that Israel is stoking its flames by displaying violent and disproportional force and by causing most of the casualties – a majority of whom are civilians..."Peace Now
Bradley Burston Lebanon II: The first war run by Peace Now Ha'aretz
Lily Galili Protest? Not now 31st July 2006
A report on an Israeli Peace Now discussion on how to react to conflict.Uri Avnery "Left, but..." 6th September 2006
" I doubt that the war would have attained its monstrous dimensions without the massive support of Leftists-but, which made it possible to form a "wall to wall consensus ", ignoring the protest of the consistent peace camp."
5. Hizbullah, the origins of the war, war aims etc
Jonathan Cook Olmert's leaked testimony reveals real goal of summer war Electronic Lebanon, 13 March 2007
'Israel's supposedly "defensive" assault on Hizbullah last summer, in which more than 1,000 Lebanese civilians were killed in a massive aerial bombardment that ended with Israel littering the country's south with cluster bombs, was cast in a definitively different light last week by Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. His leaked testimony... suggests that he had been preparing for such a war at least four months before the official casus belli...'
Adam Shatz In Search of Hezbollah New York Review of Books Volume 51, Number 7 29th April 2004
Jeffrey Goldberg In the Party of God: Are terrorists in Lebanon preparing for a larger war? New Yorker
An article on Hezbollah, dating ffom October 2002Lara Deeb Hizballah: A Primer Merip 31 July 2006
David R Adler Deeb's dishonesty 1st August 2006
Adler argues that Deeb 'makes no mention whatsoever of Hezbollah's judeophobic worldview or the antisemitic statements of senior Hezbollah leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah' and distorts how the present conflcit started.Jeff Weintraub What Hezbollah is fighting for - A reality check 22nd July 2006
Sami Moubayed Nasrallah and the three Lebanons Asia Times Online 3rd August 2006
Very useful background by a Syrian political analyst on the divisions within Lebanese society into Shi'ite, Sunni and Christian and their respective reactiosn to the war to date.Anders Strindberg Hizbullah's attacks stem from Israeli incursions into Lebanon Christian Science Monitor August 01, 2006
"Hizbullah's capture of two Israeli soldiers on July 12 was a direct result of Israel's silent but unrelenting aggression against Lebanon, which in turn is part of a six-decades long Arab-Israeli conflict."David Aaronovitch A heavily armed militia attacks your territory. What are you meant to do? Times 18th July 2006
Ze'ev Maoz Morality is not on our side Ha’aretz, 2th July 2006
"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."Adam Shatz Nasrallah's Game The Nation, 20 July 2006
Fred Halliday A Lebanese fragment: two days with Hizbollah Open Democracy, 20th July 2006
"An in-depth encounter with Hizbollah in the group's Lebanese heartlands gives Fred Halliday an unmatched insight into the "party of God's" long-term thinking and strategy."Hillel Schenker The View From Israel The Nation 14 August 2006
"The current bloody situation in Lebanon and northern Israel did not begin with the July 12 Hezbollah attack across the border; it began with Israeli indifference to the need to stabilize the situation there after the withdrawal of its troops in 2000."Lucy Fielder Rallying behind Hizbullah al Ahram, 3-9 August 2006
"Support for Hizbullah among the Lebanese is at an all time high..."John Lee Anderson, The Battle for Lebanon New Yorker, 7th Augsut 2006 (posted 31 July)
Has Israel’s assault weakened Hezbollah—or made it stronger?George Monbiot Israel responded to an unprovoked attack by Hizbullah, right? Wrong the Guardian 8th August 2006
"The assault on Lebanon was premeditated - the soldiers' capture simply provided the excuse. It was also unnecessary."Shalom Lappin Israel's Strategic Quandaries in Lebanon 20th July 2006
Tanya Reinhart Israel's "new Middle East" 28 July 2006
'Israel's real aim in Lebanon is to establish the Litani River as its natural border. To realize this, it will first destroy Lebanon, then install a puppet regime and, finally, annex southern Lebanon.'Sanam Vakil For Iran, a most welcome proxy war 4th August 2006
"In Iran, this war represents another facet of the country's forthcoming battle with the West, and within the Middle East."Jennifer Loewenstein Hizbullah, Zionism and the Ideology of late Imperial America: Awakening the Resistance Counterpunch 10th August 2006
"Are we really surprised by the vast, Hizbullah-led resistance?"
6. From Israel: Reluctant support for - and strong opposition to - the warTzali Reshef No Blank Check 18th July 2006
"Military action against Hezbollah became unavoidable. The question was only when and how... But will the war, which as I said is justified, continue to be justified without thought to the amount of force used? Is the destruction of an entire neighborhood in Beirut justified? When lacking clear military targets, is it justified to choose targets without distinction? The answer is no."What did we learn from the war? August 2006
'Peace Now's position regarding the fighting against Hezbollah is complex. On the one hand, the movement supports Israel's right to react to Hezbollah assaults, and certainly to an attack on Israeli territory. On the other hand, we believe that wallowing in the Lebanese mud is not in Israel's interest. Therefore we called upon the Israeli government to act to end the conflict through political means."Amos Oz This time Israel is defending itself 21 July 2006
'Many times in the past the Israeli peace movement criticised Israeli military operations. Not this time.'David Grossman Plans for a military victory over Hizbullah are a fantasy 20th July 2006
Israel's response was justified, but now the international community must act to save both sides from self-destructionAri Shavit This War is Different Ha'aretz July 2006
Interviews with three of the 'Four Mothers' ("probably the most influential protest movement in the history of Israel"): "This time we are fighting for our home. This time we are fighting so that we will have lives here."Menachem Kellner The war in Lebanon: a view from Haifa Open Democracy 8th August 2006
"The experience of living for four weeks under Hizbollah rocket attacks has only focused Israeli convictions, says Menachem Kellner in Israel’s cosmopolitan port city."B. Michael Doves of prey Yediot Aharonot 12th August 2006
" Israel's belligerent doves should pause to ponder one small question: If they – famous peace lovers – have turned into doves of prey after deaths of 100 Israelis, then what do they suppose is going through the minds of doves, hawks alike who have suffered 1,000 casualties, hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, and scores of pounded villages?"Uri Avnery Articles on the war July-September 2006
7. The US and Europe
Seymour M Hersh Watching Lebanon: Washington’s interests in Israel’s war New Yorker, 21 August 2006 (posted 14 Aug)
Timothy Garton Ash We Europeans must never forget that we created the Middle East conflict Guardian 27th July 2006
"Justified criticism of Israeli policy needs to be informed by a sense of our own historical responsibility."Stephen Zunes How Washington Goaded Israel 21st August 2006
"There is increasing evidence that Israel instigated a disastrous war on Lebanon largely at the behest of the United States."
8. More comment and critiqueGideon Levy Days of darkness Haaretz, 31th July 2007
"In war as in war: Israel is sinking into a strident, nationalistic atmosphere and darkness is beginning to cover everything."Paul Rogers Lebanon: war takes root 3rd August 2006
'The combination of United States global strategy, Israeli determination and Hizbollah resilience mean only one thing: a long war.'Paul Rogers Lebanon on the edge 31st August 2006
The intense military inquests and feverish diplomatic activity after Lebanon's war reveal the fragility of the Israel-Hizbollah ceasefire.Amira Hass Nasrallah didn't mean to 20th August 2006
'"We didn't mean to" is a mantra that is frequently recited in Israel when there is a discussion of the number of civilians - among them many children - who are killed by the Israel Defense Forces. To this, the claim that "they" (Hezbollah and the Palestinians) cynically exploit civilians by locating themselves among them and firing from their midst is automatically added.
This claim is made by citizens of a state who know very well where to turn off Ibn Gvirol Street in Tel Aviv to get to the security-military complex that is located in the heart of their civilian city...'Yitzhak Laor on the IDF You are terrorists, we are virtuous London Review of Books, Vol 28 No 16 17th August 2006
Ahmad Samih Khalidi If Israel has the right to use force in self defence, so do its neighbours Guardian 18th July 2006
The west appears to insist that only one side in the conflict is able to intervene militarily across borders. That will never be acceptedOmar Barghouti Israel’s Latest Massacre in Qana Palestine Chronicle 31st July 2006
"In this context, it is entirely justified to see Israel’s second massacre in Qana as the rule, not the exception."Jonathan Cook Five Myths that Sanction Israel’s War Crimes Dissident Voice 25th July 2006
Hazem Saghieh How the European left supports Lebanon Open Democracy 14th August 2006
" The left's embrace of an Islamist movement supported by Iranian mullahs would have appalled Karl Marx..."Tanya Reinhart Israel's "new Middle East" 28 July 2006
'Israel's real aim in Lebanon is to establish the Litani River as its natural border. To realize this, it will first destroy Lebanon, then install a puppet regime and, finally, annex southern Lebanon.'Sanam Vakil For Iran, a most welcome proxy war 4th August 2006
"In Iran, this war represents another facet of the country's forthcoming battle with the West, and within the Middle East."Avi Shlaim Israel's error, then and now International Herald Tribune August 4, 2006
"As in 1982, the effect of this savage assault on the Lebanese people will be to breed a new generation of angry young men dedicated to resistance."John Le Carré Lebanon, Lebanon 29th August 2006
" The attacks on Lebanon's infrastructure and civilians will rebound on Israel for years to come, says John Le Carré."Justin Raimondo Israel, Defeated: Round one: Lebanon, 1 – Israel, 0 4th August 2006
Reg Freeson, Editorial in Vanguard, the journal of the Jewish Labour Movement, new series no 35 summer 2006 "A wicked summer too far"
9. Ways forwardTom Segev Ten theses for the committee's examination 24th August 2006
"This war requires a historical perspective. Therefore, it is not enough to establish a state or parliamentary commission of inquiry, which will probably concentrate on looking for scapegoats, as usual. We should also establish a committee of historians, of the kind that has been established in many countries to conduct an in-depth examination of how it happened that society stumbled. Here are several theses for the commission to investigate..."Middle East Crisis Group (C-Chair: Christopher Patten)
Israel/Palestine/Lebanon: Climbing Out of the Abyss
Middle East Report N°57, 25 July 2006An interesting and substantial report by a group constituted of many of the (former) great and good.
Principles of a solution:
First, the Gaza and Lebanon crises need to be dealt with separately.
Secondly, resolution of the Palestinian crisis should rest on a simple equation: governance in exchange for a cessation of hostilities.
Thirdly, an immediate Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire is necessary: pursuing a military knockout is unrealistic and counterproductive.
Fourthly, to be sustainable, the ceasefire needs to be urgently followed by intensive diplomatic efforts to tackle root causes – all of them.It's Time to End the Violence in the Middle East - Once and for all
Convene an International Middle East Peace Conference to Impose a Final Settlement on All Parties
Tikkun peace advert with 3,500 signatories, placed in the New York Times, 31st July and Los Angeles Times, 6th August 2006Daniel Ben Simon Talking only to ourselves Haaretz, 17th August 2006
"I am trying to recall when I last saw Israeli leaders talking with Arab leaders about peace, and finding it hard to remember."Eric Silver Israel’s bleak post-mortem Open Democracy 18th August 2006
"Israel's political and military elite are reflecting on the lessons of the war with Hizbollah – and thinking about the next round, says Eric Silver."
