If You Play with Matches You're Going to Get Burned

Disproportionate? You’re damn right it’s disproportionate. The time has come for the Lebanese government, and the people as a whole, to take responsibility for their country. Israel did not start this war and she has every right to act in a manner which will make those responsible think twice about any future acts of war, such as the cross border attack and abductions carried out on Wednesday.

It is simply not acceptable for Lebanon to claim that the activities of Hizballah are none of their concern. Hizballah has fourteen seats in the Lebanese Parliament and two ministerial portfolios in the cabinet. The other member of their Islamist Shi‘a alliance, Amal, has fifteen seats so they are an intrinsic part of the Lebanese government. The unjustifiable aggression of Hizballah cannot and should not be tolerated. No other nation would put up with such a situation and nor will Israel.

If this means destroying airports, roads, bridges, terrorist propaganda TV stations, naval blockades and so forth then so be it. Lebanon should know that as long as Israelis live in fear of missile attacks then her cities, economy and peace-of-mind are forfeit. Until Lebanese citizens call their government to account they will live with the same fear that Israeli citizens do, and worse. The blasé, indifferent and irresponsible attitude of the Lebanese government is just not acceptable.

What confuses me, and likewise my cab-driver of this morning, is why a) Israel doesn’t drop troops into Beirut and neutralise Nasrallah and b) why we aren’t bombing Syria and Damascus in a similar manner. Syria, too, needs to know the consequences of her actions and these consequences should be severely painful. They need to be taught that we in Israel will not tolerate this aggression any longer.