From: hernlem@chess.ncsu.EDU (Brad Hernlem)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast
Subject: Re: More shelling of Lebanese villages
Date: 17 Apr 92 20:47:32 GMT
Reply-To: hernlem@chess.ncsu.EDU (Brad Hernlem)
Organization: North Carolina State University

In article <1992Apr17.201132.25734@muddcs.claremont.edu>,
gmeltzne@jarthur.claremont.edu (manu) writes:
> In article <1992Apr17.155549.23741@ncsu.edu> hernlem@chess.ncsu.EDU
(Brad Hernlem) writes:
> >
> >ANOTHER ISRAELI SOLDIER KILLED IN LEBANON CLASH
> >
> >BEIRUT, April 7 (DPA) -- An Israeli soldier was killed and several
> >wounded today in a clash with Muslim militiamen on the edge of Israeli
> >occupied security zone in eastern Lebanon.
> >
> >A spokesman for the Islamic Resistance, the military arm of the
> >Hezbollah, said the soldiers were on patrol when they were intercepted
> >by the resistance on a hill. 
> >
> >Following the clash, Israeli artillery and gunners of Israel's surrogate
> >militia, the South Lebanon Army pounded parts of the Bekaa Valley,
> >inflicting damage and casualties.
> >
> >Israeli gunners have been shelling Muslim villages adjacent to the
> >'security zone' since last night in retaliation for a Hezbollah attack
> >on an Israeli motorcade which killed two soldiers.
> >
> >Israeli intelligence units fanned across the villages today and rounded
> >up hundreds of residents suspected of collaborating with yesterday's
attackers.
> >
> >The sudden escalation in violence on the border prompted thousands of
> >residents to flee, seeking safety in Beirut and the north of Lebanon.
> >
> >The festive mood which usually prevails in the southern Lebanese town of
> >Nabatieh during Eid Al-Fitr was disrupted today by an uneasy calm.
> >
> >The crowds of Muslim families who normally escape the hustle of Beirut
> >to spend Eid Al-Fitr in the south remained absent from the Nabatieh
> >area, sited close to the border with Israel.
> >
> >The children of southern Lebanon were not even allowed to buy fire
> >crackers and celebrate the Eid as they usually do.
> >
> >"We want to be able to distinguish real explosions of Israeli artillery
> >from the thuds of fireworks," said Munthir Hajj, 40, a father of three
> >children. The anxiety came to the backdrop of fears that the Jewish
> >neighbors might be planning to cross the border at any moment.
> >
> >Hezbollah said yesterday's attack was in response to the killing in
> >February of its secretary-general, Sheikh Abbas Mousawi, by Israeli forces.
> >
> >[Arab News, April 8, 1992]
> >
> >*******
> >
> >It sounds like the Lebanese could use a "security zone" in Israeli to
> >relieve themselves of the almost daily pounding of their villages by the
> >Israelis and the rounding up of their friends, neighbors, and relatives.
> >I wonder when was the last time that Israelis had to flee by the
> >thousands from their homes because of bombardment from Lebanon? Is there
> >any wonder why Israel will not allow U.N. peacekeeping forces in there
> >zone of occupation?
> >
> >Brad Hernlem (hernlem@chess.ncsu.EDU)
> 
> 	It sounds like the Lebanese would do well to get rid of the Hezbollah
> and its associates.  Israel doesn't get bombarded by Lebanon because the
> terrorist groups that attack her, don't (thank God) have access to planes
> and howitzers.  If the terrorists stop killing Israelis, launching Katyushas,
> etc. I bet that Israel would stop the shelling, etc.
>      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 							-Manu
> -- 
> Email: gmeltzne@jarthur.claremont.edu            
> Do unto others before they do unto you.
> "The future of the Arabs of Palestine was sacrificed to Egyptian politics"
> 						-Sir John Bagot Glubb

I bet not, given that the cease fire which preceded the Israeli invasion
of Lebanon in 1982 was scrupulously adhered to for 11 months except for
one incident brought on by Israeli provocation. The argument has been
used by pro-Israel types that Israel must stay in Lebanon because it
can't trust the Lebanese government to keep the border secure. We can
see that Syria does an outstanding job of keeping its border secure and
since Syria has been entrusted with the job of assisting the Lebanese
military with its work why should we believe that they will not be able
to do the job in Lebanon?  The resistance forces in Lebanon are NOT
fighting Israel, they are fighting Israeli occupiers in their country.
Are we not seeing the same kind of provocation by Israel that it used
before to ensure that its border with Lebanon will NOT be secure so it
can excuse its occupation of Lebanese soil?

If the tables were turned, i.e. Israel was relatively defenseless and
Lebanon had overwhelming military might, I wonder if Israel would accept
partial occupation of its territory, bombardment of its villages, and
regular flights of its people in terror. I suspect Israelis would rather
fight than endure this treatment, don't you?

Brad Hernlem