Do you think that Israel Over-reacted with their response to Lebanon?

Question

As an Israeli, I feel compelled to ask the general community for their response to the actions of my country.

So as not to cause any confusion, I will write down all of the things that Israel has done over the past several days with both the lebanese and israeli casualties totalled at the end.

Israel evacuated lebanon 6 years ago.
Four days ago, Hezbollah militants crossed to Israeli teritorry and killed two soldiers, taking two others hostage.
In response Israel responded with a naval blockade around Lebanon, blew up roads to Demascus, and repeatedly blew up the runways on Beirut's international airport.
Based on what I read in Israeli news, this is because they want no way to transport the hostages out of Lebanon (and into Iran).
Israel then continued to repeatedly bomb the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah reportedly has many supporters and many offices.
Hezbollah has shot over 450 rockets into Israel, some landing in Haifa.

Israel has 15 dead.
Lebanon has 93 dead.

It's tough to label what a just response is ... it is up to you on what your opinion is.

Once again, based on the hours of articles and TV that i've read and watched, the soldiers were on a routine border patrol on the Lebanese-Israeli border. There should be nothing involving Syria, even Syria denies any involvement now on record.

What does it mean that their skin color does not match the color of the land? Does the skin color of the average american (if there is even such a thing) match the skin color of the land? Namely does the skin color of americans match the skin color of native americans? or the skin color of south and middle americans?

Answer 1

I'm a foreigner currently residing in Israel, thus I cannot really say my answer will be absolutely fair.

Emotionally I sympathize with Israel, and grief for the Lebanese.

I'd experienced Arafat's death, Sharon's coma, Olmert's election and now the fighting in the North of Israel. (Sad to say, Northern Israel is my favorite area, it saddens me to know that I'll never get to go there again, not in the immediate future.)

So as to say, I felt that it's one event leading to another, purely coincidence and basic reactions from all parties. The attack on Lebanon does look impulsive and over reactive, IF one chooses to forget Middle East history before the recent World Cup(still remember Zidane? I bet everyone has clean forgotten about him by now.) and decide that the current conflict is sudden in nature.

Hezbollah had been left alone for a long time and I believe no one except themselves know how much they had been planning and preparing for this day. Once they start a war, only chance of ending it is when they run out of rockets and suicide bombers. From my point of view, Israel is ill-prepared. From the day Sharon went into coma, Israel had been busying herself with the idea of changing Hamas's agenda, building the separation wall and gaining international support.

But in reality, I don't believe Israel is successful with the part about International recognition. I was in front of the internet and television for the past 2 days, watching Internet, Skynews, CNN and local news channel. The world reported on the Lebonese side with great sympathy and lukewarm attitude on Israel's side. (Skynews is still quite neutral though). While the local news are really "local", reporting only on what is important to the Israelis. Even the Lebanese Prime minister's plea is much more convincing than the legitimacy of Israel's actions. Why is the humane side of Israelis not shown to the world at all? Perhaps there wasn't enough being done to convince the world that Israelis wanted only Peace? Or has Israel been too absorbed with herself that they lost touch with the international community?

The world is not interested in justifications, sympathy will always be on the side with the largest no. of casualties.

Answer 2

I am an American and generally proud of my country. I have served in it's military and vote regularly now. The USA has accomplished a lot. We also have made mistakes in the past and today too. I am what is called here the silent majority. in other words not usually vocal when it comes to governmental made decisions. I usually vote Republican but not always. I tell you these things so you can understand my background. I under stand that you must defend your country's actions as I would the USA's I am not trying to start a debate but I truly think that Israels response to the death of two soldiers and the kidnapping of two others was much too severe. How many deaths do you feel that it will take on both sides to make up for the four soldiers killed and taken? The soldiers knew the danger of what they were doing. or at least their officers did and sent them there. These are the ones that should be held responsible. I am not agreeing with the Hezbollah actions in any way, they were wrong, very wrong in what they did and the ones that are responsible for it should be punished. Although I will always support decisions made by our president and our soldiers I did not think it was right to go into Iraq the way we did, nor to support Israel in this needless over reaction to something so minor.

Answer 3

What were the captured soldiers doing on Syrian land in the first place?

The first soldier was captured in the Shaba Farns area which the Jerusalem Post acknowledges as Syrian land according to the UN. Lebanon disputes this, but it is certainly not Israeli territory.

Since the soldier was occupying land illegally the capture was probably more justified than Israel would have us believe. So yes, Israel overreacted but then it might just be a reciprocal favour to the US to take the heat off them and their invasion of Iraq (a favour for Israel) and to further destabilise the region to justify an invasion of Iran.

BTW, why haven't we heard of the terrorist group that kidnapped a couple of Palestinian workers in response to the Hizbollah actions?

I din't say Syria was involved, I said that the land on which the soldiers were patroling is Syrian land. I don't know how the UN worked that out but, according to the Jerusalem Post it is Syrian, and Israeli soldiers had no right to be there. They were, and they were captured. It should be a simple negotiation to have them released but your bloody minded government seems to prefer killing civilians.

Answer 4

Israel should have got rid of these militants even before they withdrew from Lebanon 6 years ago.
Based on news reports : Few countries actually support Israel. No muslim would ever like to see Israel Exist.
Israel in the past has done behind the scene deals to secure their citizens so this has become a opportunity for the enemy. I believe God will surely help Israel, because there are many non - Israelis who are praying for Israel because they are " God's Chosen People"

Answer 5

This from an American Truck Driver: No, Israel did not overreact in the malicious attacks Hezbollah perpetrated against it. Israel is a sovereign nation with responsibilities towards its citizens. If a sovereign nation is attacked, the appropriate measure of force must be used to redress such a violation of international law. The best measure of force is overwhelming force, since anything less is irresponsible. History demonstrates that the use of overwhelming force results in less casualties on both sides of a conflict, since it will cause the aggressor to back off that much faster. Israel did right! It should continue in its use of overwhelming force until one of two outcomes is achieved: 1. Until Hezbollah changes its behavior, which is not now evident, or 2. Until Hezbollah is utterly destroyed as an operational military unit. Keep on keeping on, Israel! We are behind you!

Answer 6

I am lebanese, and I think that Israel realllly over reacted. It has been bombarding Lebanon, especially the southern suburb of Beirut and South Lebanon, killing over 100 civilians and injuring over 400. Just recently they bombarded a RED CROSS building which killed 20 people, including Americans citizens which lived in Lebanon..
I hope this war is over soon, and we can all live in peace. The only way to stop this is to stop blaming each other and try to solve all issues that exist between us.

Answer 7

I think that the Israeli actions are justified! The main thing that bothers me is that in the American press they keep stating that Israel began the action after 2 Israeli soldiers were "captured". Israel was not at war, and Hezbollah is not a government, the soldiers were not captured they were infact KIDNAPPED in a clearly terrorist act!

Answer 8

On the surface, it looks like its over reaction. But do we really know all the facts and things under the surface. This is not a new problem. The problem has been in existence for 58 yrs. Talking about Israel's right to exist where it exist. can we look at any incident in isolation.

Answer 9

The term "over-reacted" does not even begin to describe the situation.

Israel is punishing the innocent civilians of Lebanon and Gaza for the actions of a very few pseudo-military thugs ... and, in doing so, fueling additional acts of terrorism in the future.

Answer 10

I believe that to protect their sovereignty as a nation they must use all force necessary to achieve that goal. The people of Israel have had to fight war after war after war. Many nations surrounding you have populaces utterly opposed to your very existence. Take the statements of the leader of Iran for example. I had a pen pal who was killed in a suicide bombing a few years back. I would proudly serve in your army.