Israel launches offensive inside Lebanon

Venisenvy · Jul 12th, 2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

MARJAYOUN, Lebanon - The Israeli army on Wednesday said seven soldiers were killed in fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas after a cross-border raid in which the Lebanese group captured two other soldiers and dozens of Israeli troops crossed the frontier with warplanes, tanks and gunboats to hunt for the captives.

Israel’s Channel 10 reported Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz authorized a campaign of air strikes targeting Hezbollah guerrilla installations and Lebanese civilian infrastructure — a second front in the fight against Islamic militants by Israel, which already is waging an operation to free a captured soldier in the Gaza Strip.

The report described the planned blitz as part of Israel’s response to the capture of two of its soldiers and killing of several others in a Hezbollah border raid earlier in the day.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the soldiers’ capture “an act of war.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13823680/

I was not too happy with the action Israel was taking in Palestine recently but the actions Israel has taken today I am fully in favor of.

**db44** · Jul 12th, 2006, 10:17 AM

I haven't been happy with Israel of late either, and I'm not in favor of this. However I don't know enough about the situation. Such as how much Hezbollah is connected to Lebanon.

Venisenvy · Jul 12th, 2006, 10:43 AM

Hezbollah is a group in Lebanon like Hamas. They are also a political group like Hamas, they have 2 cabinet members that I know of and they are a key part of the government, they definetly are connected.

Also it doesnt help to see the Lebanese embassador to the US demanding that Israel stop and carry out a prisoner exchange. Basically saying we have israeli prisoners now, they have lebanese prisoners lets have an exchange. I think thats the last thing Israel should do, it sets a horrible precedent and frankly in these situation my hawkish side comes out, they should make them either release the prisoners or pay.

My only worry is that this could really make things a lot worse in the middle east for years to come. Obviously Syria is now involved because of Hezbollah. And Iran created Hezbollah to go after Israel so who knows what could happen there.

Regis Philbin · Jul 13th, 2006, 06:59 PM

I have the utmost respect for the Israelis. They are such a tough people and have put up with so much crap just because of their religion. There's no doubt Syria and Iran are sending money, weapons, support to Hezbollah. This war could widen to other parts of the Middle East but I doubt it. I'm sure Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia can remember the absolute ass-whipping Israel put on them during the wars of the 1940's, 1960's and 1970's.

God bless Israel.

**pinky** · Jul 13th, 2006, 07:47 PM

Their problems aren't about religion any more than 9/11 was. In both cases, the issues are political, but dressed up in religious garb.

Regis Philbin · Jul 13th, 2006, 07:52 PM

Baloney! It's because they're Jews...

**pinky** · Jul 13th, 2006, 08:03 PM

So you're trying to tell me that, if the nation of Israel didn't exist, and the Jews were still scattered around the world, that the Palestinians would be attacking them?

Venisenvy · Jul 13th, 2006, 09:29 PM

Look obviously its not just because they are jews but religion/race does play a part in the situation. Many things have gone on in 2000 years between the two people leading up to the tentions today, that cannot be forgotten but the situation today must also be looked at without putting too much weight on everything that happened in those 2000 years. The situation today is that Israel is here to stay, that others do not want to accept that and are doing everything to go after Israel.

I support the steps Israel is taking, i see little difference to when we attacked Afghanistan as a whole because of 9/11. Lebanon has allowed Hezbollah to freely grow without impunity. They are a terrorist organization for any military action to stop Lebanon has to denounce hezbollah and arrest its leaders, destroy the group. I would warn Israel against expanding it but if they decided to target sites in Syria I would not hold it against them and believe it is within their rights. Hezbollah being funded by the governments of Syria and Iran have opened those governments up to targets, obviously I do not want world war 3 and would strongly urge Israel not to expand it beyond the present fronts.

**pinky** · Jul 13th, 2006, 09:54 PM

Certainly the differences in their respective religions makes it harder for them to achieve peace, but the fact of the matter is that the establishment of the nation of Israel is the basis of the hostilities, and terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas wouldn't be seeking out Jews as targets if Israel didn't exist.

Venisenvy · Jul 14th, 2006, 09:00 AM

They would not be attacking them either if Jews didn't exist but they do, and Israel does exist. They are targeting them, and chances are if Israel didnt exist Jews would still be targets by someone somewhere they have been for all of history.

**pinky** · Jul 14th, 2006, 12:04 PM

All religious groups have been attacked by others at some time. My point is that the crisis in the Middle East is political, not religious. Had Israel not been carved out of traditionally Arab territory, the current hostilities would not be taking place.

That said, Israel IS a reality that's not going away any time soon, and the other nations in the area are going to have to find a way to coexist.

Regis Philbin · Jul 14th, 2006, 10:46 PM

**Richard Tafoya** · Jul 15th, 2006, 12:08 AM

Isreal takes a few hits.

NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/15/wo...=1&oref=slogin

Quote:

More than 100 rockets rained down on northern Israel on Friday in a third straight day of attacks, killing a woman and her 5-year-old grandson, while thousands of residents around here packed their cars, boarded buses and hitched rides out of a region that normally enjoys a large influx of tourists on summer weekends.

The woman and boy were killed when a rocket slammed into the family dining room as they ate a traditional Sabbath dinner in the town of Meron. Several other family members were wounded in the attack, which was carried out by Lebanon’s militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah, according to the Israeli military. The names of the family were not immediately released.

At the bus station in nearby Safed, a town pounded by rockets on Thursday and Friday, Israelis scrambled to grab buses heading south before the start of the Jewish Sabbath at sundown Friday.

“Safed was a town that had never been hit by rockets until Thursday, so people were quite shocked,” said Galia Kubi, 66, whose family has lived in this hilltop town for seven generations.

Isreal demolishes Hezbollah headquarters
LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...home-headlines

Quote:

With the threat of regional war heightening by the hour, Israeli fighter jets demolished Hezbollah's headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut at sunset Friday, unleashing massive explosions that rocked the capital for miles around.

Hezbollah chief Sayed Hassan Nasrallah responded almost immediately with a televised speech -- and an ominous threat.

"The surprises I promised you will start now. The Israeli war vessels that inflicted damage on our infrastructure . . . will burn and sink in front of you," the Shiite cleric said. "This is the start."

With airstrikes and missile attacks intensifying, rhetoric hardening and civilian casualties mounting on both sides, Israel and Hezbollah seem determined to escalate their fight.

Hezbollah's improved arsenal, extended range worries Isreal
LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...home-headlines

Quote:

Brig. Gen. Yossi Baidatz, who heads the research wing of army intelligence, told the foreign-affairs committee of the Israeli parliament Thursday that Hezbollah has about 100 rockets capable of reaching 25 to 45 miles, the Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported.

Officials estimate that Hezbollah has about 10,000 rockets, mostly the shorter-range Katyushas, the newspaper said. The report said the older of the longer-range rockets, an Iranian-made Fajr 3, carries 200 pounds of explosives, while the newer Fajr 5 has a 385-pound warhead. It was unclear which of the two may have targeted Haifa.

Officials believe Hezbollah may also have rockets capable of reaching 75 miles, Eitan Ben-Eliyahu, the former Air Force commander, told Israel Radio on Friday. If true, that is far enough to reach the heavily populated fringes of Tel Aviv.

And the daily Haaretz newspaper reported Friday that Israeli officials believe Hezbollah may have rockets that could travel even farther, putting them in reach of most of the main cities in Israel.

x2_Iceman · Jul 15th, 2006, 04:17 AM

What Israel is doing is disgusting!!!

They are going to start another war, involving other countries!

They don't give a damn about peace, all they want, is to show how strong they are, thanks to us, their big brother!

**pinky** · Jul 15th, 2006, 09:41 AM

I can't agree with that assessment. Hamas, Hezbollah, and more than one Arab government leader have all threatened Israel repeatedly. The nation has a right to defend itself and its people from attack.

This time, they're going overboard, though. The sheer amount of destruction being caused is completely disproportionate to what's been done to Israel. And the overreaction of the Israeli government is extremely dangerous to the region and the world. Too bad Bush isn't man enough to tell them to stop.

Jul 12th, 2006, 10:17 AM	#2
db44 Shark bait, OOH-HA-HA! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Not in Kansas anymore!!! Posts: 20,747	I haven't been happy with Israel of late either, and I'm not in favor of this. However I don't know enough about the situation. Such as how much Hezbollah is connected to Lebanon. __________________ In the end, only kindness matters.

Jul 12th, 2006, 10:43 AM	#3
Venisenvy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Connecticut Posts: 15,760	Hezbollah is a group in Lebanon like Hamas. They are also a political group like Hamas, they have 2 cabinet members that I know of and they are a key part of the government, they definetly are connected. Also it doesnt help to see the Lebanese embassador to the US demanding that Israel stop and carry out a prisoner exchange. Basically saying we have israeli prisoners now, they have lebanese prisoners lets have an exchange. I think thats the last thing Israel should do, it sets a horrible precedent and frankly in these situation my hawkish side comes out, they should make them either release the prisoners or pay. My only worry is that this could really make things a lot worse in the middle east for years to come. Obviously Syria is now involved because of Hezbollah. And Iran created Hezbollah to go after Israel so who knows what could happen there. __________________ If a stranger lives with you in your land, do not molest him. You must count him as one of your own countrymen and love him as yourself—for you were once strangers yourselves in Egypt. I am Yahweh your God Leviticus 19: 32-34 El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido! Last edited by Venisenvy; Jul 12th, 2006 at 10:49 AM.

Jul 13th, 2006, 06:59 PM	#4
Regis Philbin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Neither here nor there Posts: 15,292	I have the utmost respect for the Israelis. They are such a tough people and have put up with so much crap just because of their religion. There's no doubt Syria and Iran are sending money, weapons, support to Hezbollah. This war could widen to other parts of the Middle East but I doubt it. I'm sure Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia can remember the absolute ass-whipping Israel put on them during the wars of the 1940's, 1960's and 1970's. God bless Israel. __________________ When most Americans read the novel 1984 they were scared. When Obama read 1984, he started taking notes. --- Rush Limbaugh The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. --- Margaret Thatcher

Jul 13th, 2006, 07:52 PM	#6
Regis Philbin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Neither here nor there Posts: 15,292	Baloney! It's because they're Jews... __________________ When most Americans read the novel 1984 they were scared. When Obama read 1984, he started taking notes. --- Rush Limbaugh The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. --- Margaret Thatcher

Jul 13th, 2006, 09:29 PM	#8
Venisenvy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Connecticut Posts: 15,760	Look obviously its not just because they are jews but religion/race does play a part in the situation. Many things have gone on in 2000 years between the two people leading up to the tentions today, that cannot be forgotten but the situation today must also be looked at without putting too much weight on everything that happened in those 2000 years. The situation today is that Israel is here to stay, that others do not want to accept that and are doing everything to go after Israel. I support the steps Israel is taking, i see little difference to when we attacked Afghanistan as a whole because of 9/11. Lebanon has allowed Hezbollah to freely grow without impunity. They are a terrorist organization for any military action to stop Lebanon has to denounce hezbollah and arrest its leaders, destroy the group. I would warn Israel against expanding it but if they decided to target sites in Syria I would not hold it against them and believe it is within their rights. Hezbollah being funded by the governments of Syria and Iran have opened those governments up to targets, obviously I do not want world war 3 and would strongly urge Israel not to expand it beyond the present fronts. __________________ If a stranger lives with you in your land, do not molest him. You must count him as one of your own countrymen and love him as yourself—for you were once strangers yourselves in Egypt. I am Yahweh your God Leviticus 19: 32-34 El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido!

Jul 13th, 2006, 07:47 PM	#5
pinky Spoiler of All Fun Moderator Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: It's JERSEY, not Joisey Posts: 22,190	Their problems aren't about religion any more than 9/11 was. In both cases, the issues are political, but dressed up in religious garb.

Jul 13th, 2006, 08:03 PM	#7
pinky Spoiler of All Fun Moderator Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: It's JERSEY, not Joisey Posts: 22,190	So you're trying to tell me that, if the nation of Israel didn't exist, and the Jews were still scattered around the world, that the Palestinians would be attacking them?

Jul 13th, 2006, 09:54 PM	#9
pinky Spoiler of All Fun Moderator Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: It's JERSEY, not Joisey Posts: 22,190	Certainly the differences in their respective religions makes it harder for them to achieve peace, but the fact of the matter is that the establishment of the nation of Israel is the basis of the hostilities, and terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas wouldn't be seeking out Jews as targets if Israel didn't exist.

Jul 14th, 2006, 09:00 AM	#10
Venisenvy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Connecticut Posts: 15,760	They would not be attacking them either if Jews didn't exist but they do, and Israel does exist. They are targeting them, and chances are if Israel didnt exist Jews would still be targets by someone somewhere they have been for all of history. __________________ If a stranger lives with you in your land, do not molest him. You must count him as one of your own countrymen and love him as yourself—for you were once strangers yourselves in Egypt. I am Yahweh your God Leviticus 19: 32-34 El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido!

Jul 14th, 2006, 12:04 PM	#11
pinky Spoiler of All Fun Moderator Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: It's JERSEY, not Joisey Posts: 22,190	All religious groups have been attacked by others at some time. My point is that the crisis in the Middle East is political, not religious. Had Israel not been carved out of traditionally Arab territory, the current hostilities would not be taking place. That said, Israel IS a reality that's not going away any time soon, and the other nations in the area are going to have to find a way to coexist.

Jul 14th, 2006, 10:46 PM	#12
Regis Philbin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Neither here nor there Posts: 15,292	__________________ When most Americans read the novel 1984 they were scared. When Obama read 1984, he started taking notes. --- Rush Limbaugh The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. --- Margaret Thatcher

Jul 15th, 2006, 04:17 AM	#14
x2_Iceman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,080	What Israel is doing is disgusting!!! They are going to start another war, involving other countries! They don't give a damn about peace, all they want, is to show how strong they are, thanks to us, their big brother! __________________ Gay people are born everyday. You will never legislate that away. - Melissa Etheridge

Jul 15th, 2006, 09:41 AM	#15
pinky Spoiler of All Fun Moderator Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: It's JERSEY, not Joisey Posts: 22,190	I can't agree with that assessment. Hamas, Hezbollah, and more than one Arab government leader have all threatened Israel repeatedly. The nation has a right to defend itself and its people from attack. This time, they're going overboard, though. The sheer amount of destruction being caused is completely disproportionate to what's been done to Israel. And the overreaction of the Israeli government is extremely dangerous to the region and the world. Too bad Bush isn't man enough to tell them to stop.