Self-Defence? Hardly.
The Israeli bombardment of Lebanon so far, courtesy of Lebanon Updates via Lenin’s Tomb:
Israel’s Carte Blanche. posted by lenin
According to an Israeli minister in failing to agree on a call for an immediate Middle East ceasefire, the world has given Israel permission to continue with the destruction of Lebanon. So, Israel has taken the initiative, blowing up a residential block of flats in Tyre, which has sparked an exodus – exactly what the Israelis have been trying to effect with some success across the whole of Lebanon south of the Litani – in fact, it is hard to believe given their tactics elsewhere that they intend to let it rest at the Litani. Here is a map of Israeli bombardment as of 25th. (click to enlarge)
See that? Certainly a large concentration of attacks across the south, which they have openly advertised they intend to ethnically cleanse and annexe, but they’re basically terrorising the whole country. As you’ll note from the Fact Box in the graphic, the infrastructure is especially being targeted. Israel certainly wants a ruined Lebanon to lord it over, and dispelling the civilian population has the purpose for them of depriving Hezbollah fighters of the base of support in which they move. It is Fallujah many times over. They know, of course, that by destroying roads, targeting fleeing vehicles, blowing up ambulances, destroying airports, blockading the seaside ports and basically targeting any means of transport more sophisticated than a bicycle, they are making it extremely difficult for people to escape to anywhere safe. But that’s fine too, because they also know that in targeting Hezbollah they are targeting a huge (and growing) part of the Lebanese population. The greasy disavowal from American neoconservatives like William Kristol and Brit Hume – oh, Israel doesn’t want to harm civilians, but of these terrorists insist on hiding… – must echo some contemptuous AIPAC press release. The Israeli government knows full well that it is up against the Lebanese people: the Christian forces, the communists, Hezbollah and even their rivals Amal are all fighting.
And now the UK is complicit is arming Israel with US bunker busters, not to mention the other regular arms shipments we’ve been selling them all this time.
Oh, how very well played, Mr Blair & Mrs Beckett.
