Israel is, very publicly and forcefully punishing Palestine and Lebanon. The problem is that many innocent civilians are losing life, limb and property whilst this posturing is going on. This is particularly unsettling since the real perpetrators behind the abductions are probably very far away from the action. The point is, that Israel is likely seeking that the governments of Palestine, Lebanon and probably soon, Syria be destabilized sufficiently to be overthrown.
I was briefly swayed by the Associated Press's acknowledgment of Hezbollas willingness to agree to a "prisoner exchange".
However, in looking over it, I'm wondering whether Israel ever committed random acts of aggression by seizing Hebollah or Lebanese persons solely due to their allegience with either Hezbollah or Lebanon (as opposed to those seized for more specific crimes or intents against Israel). If Israel had specific reasons for seizing those it currently holds prisoner (and/or had seized them inside Israeli territory), then any appeal to a "prisoner exchange" is materially irrelevant to the discussion.
The seizing of a
random pair of Israeli troops from within Israeli's territory, advocated by a prominent figure of a now-
political party that has great
political power within Lebanon, is very troubling. That he said that dissonance with the official position of keeping these prisoners was "tantamount" to colluding with Israel (from the front page of the L.A. times), is very telling. Hezbollah's
politcal power in Lebanon takes this beyond mere terrorist tactics, to a state-versus-state conflict. The people may be far removed from this conflict, for they cannot readily recall the elected Hezbollah officials. However, the
people of Lebanon must deal with the consequences of their elected leaders. They knew
full well what Hezbollah's position on Israel's existance was. Regardless of whether the government sanctioned these attacks and kidnappings, members of the
government, or one of its main political parties, sanctioned these actions, and such members (and leaders) pre-emptively admonish those who might otherwise oppose them.
I fully support any military action Israel feels it must take at this time, since this has gone beyond mere terrorism to the act of a state (as supported by a member of a leader of group with
political, and not merely social, power). However, I feel this may be playing into the hands of "evil":
http://www.imminst.o...&f=56&t=4551&s=