the Israeli government claims that attacks will cease on the return of the two captured soldiers.

Date:   8/5/2006 4:07:45 PM ( 18 y ago)

With the majority of the Israeli community hoping for the destruction of Hezbollah in one fatal swoop, the rest of the world is left to debate whether or not the country, Israel, has been given the right to do so. One such debate is now taking place at PicktheParty.

Israel takes a lot of flack when the country becomes the aggressor. Sure, the country may be the big dog in the territory, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a bully. When a small dog continuously nips at the heels of the rottweiler is it wrong for the animal to have the right to bite back? According to some, but these same people aren’t in constant fear of a terrorist attack. When America was hit with three passenger planes on 9-11, it responded in kind with attacks against Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda militants.

Though there are some who would rather think that the attacks against Israel are made by ‘throwing rocks,’ that couldn’t be farther from the truth. From 2000 to present, approximately 100 ‘major’ terrorist attacks have been made against Israel each year. For the most part Israel did not respond to a ‘major’ attack with a ‘major’ response. Is that because it was only rocks being thrown at them? Doubtful, especially since these attacks are classified under ‘Rocket Fire,’ ‘Anti-Tank Fire,’ ‘Small Arms Fire,’ ‘Suicide Bombers,’ ‘Grenades’ and ‘Explosive Charges.’ Not a single rock thrown was included in this list.

Now Hezbollah has committed the final straw. Working under Operation Truthful Promise, Hezbollah militants have attacked Israel on two fronts with the culmination of their efforts resulting in the capture of two Israeli soldiers; eight Israeli soldiers were killed in the process. Israel announced that the move was an “act of war,” and has responded with its very own Operation Just Reward.

Israel’s immediate response was a series of air and artillery strikes at Hezbollah positions first in southern Lebanon, and then Beirut. Coming as somewhat of a shock to Israel, Hezbollah responded with a “rocket a minute” over the course of an hour on civilian locations. Unlike Hezbollah, Israel claims that they only target those who need to be killed; this, however, does not mean that the country can avoid collateral civilian damage.

For this current conflict, Hezbollah has become Israel’s main threat and top priority. Though there are many who ask for immediate diplomacy, it may prove difficult considering that the Israeli government is now facing a Shi'a Muslim organization whose doctrine presses the destruction its country. Israel, with their greater force, now has the option to crush the Hezbollah threat on all of their borders. Though over 50 percent of the Israeli civilians think this is their best option, the Israeli government claims that attacks will cease on the return of the two captured soldiers.

But is this option even plausible? Israel has mobilized, something that is hard to take back. With pressure from its citizens, Israel might be coerced into finishing what it has started -- the destruction of Hezbollah. But what of the fallout? Will Israel be given the support to make such a move?

 

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