War in the North

War in the North

The war between Hizbollah and Israel is taking a greater toll in human casualties and property damage every day. To help understand what is happening from the Israeli side, I offer the following:

• Images from the North
• Resident's Blog
• Cooking Cholent (another blog from northern resident)
  
• About Katushyas
• War of the Captives
• Shake the Earth
• Blog by Arnold and Frimet Roth: This Ongoing War

A Perfect Example...of What is Wrong with the Media

I've just come from watching about 15 minutes of CNN's coverage of the ongoing battle in the north. During that time, the CNN broadcasters interviewed the following people:

1. Lebanese advisor to the Lebanese PM (who blamed Israel and whined that Lebanon can't be expected to control Hizbollah...oh, he didn't mention that there are Hizbollah members in the cabinet).

2. CNN reporter - who started off by saying Israel is really escalating this...and Hizbollah is retaliating. Excuse me...but THEY killed 8 soldiers yesterday...THEY kidnapped 2 soldiers...and THEY launched Katushya rockets yesterday and another SEVENTY rockets today...and WE are escalating it? THEY
are retaliating?

3. Syrian gov't official...I was boiling too much at this point to remember his position - but he says...surprise...that Israel is to blame. He said that we are the only government in the world to use terrorist actions and we are accountable to no one and we use our superior army and think that makes us right...

4. Palestinian Hamas Foreign Minister - saying that Israel has to withdraw (he didn't mention that we DID withdraw last year) and negotiate, not use violence.

Ok, now - in all of these 15 minutes - isn't it strange that the only Israeli to speak was a clip of a news conference of an Israeli Chief of Staff saying that if Hizbollah attacks our cities - no place in Lebanon is safe.

Oh, and the headlines while this was all being discussed - "Hizbollah threatens to attack Israeli cities" - excuse me, but I've seen the damage,they aren't THREATENING ANYTHING. So...you see, I don't hold too much on you all seeing a fair accounting of what is happening.

YES - we bombed Beirut's airport. Did we bomb it yesterday - when there was "relative calm" in the area - or did we do it today after numerous attacks,9 dead citizens...oh...and by the way - while talking about the 2 soldiers, not ONE channel mentioned the 8 dead soldiers...

Fair coverage works like this:

1. Yesterday - Hizbollah crossed the Israeli border, attacked two army vehicles, murdered 3 soldiers and dragged off two.

2. In pursuit of those, an army tank ran over a mine and 4 soldiers died.

3. In trying to get their bodies before those ghouls stole them, dragged them through the streets of Beirut (as they've done before) or paraded theirblood-covered hands to the media (as they've done), another soldier was killed.

4. Overnight - katushya rockets were fired at civilian populations.

5. Overnight - Israeli fighter jets targeted SPECIFIC targets for SPECIFIC reasons - bridges and key roads to stop the flow of traffic to the north (they also warned the civilian populations).

6. Since this morning - more than 70 rockets have been shot at civilian populations. So far, 1 dead - 90 wounded.

7. And, since this morning, Israel continues to target SPECIFIC targets for SPECIFIC reasons...including the airport, which Hizbollah...with the full knowledge of the Lebanese army, is using to bring in more weapons.

THAT is a balanced report. Israel was attacked. WE retaliated. WE are not escalating this. Hizbollah escalated this and we know enough not to want to leave soldiers in their hands. For 6 years, they tormented three Israeli families about their sons...who had died the very day they were captured. For 6 years the families lived with the hope and the horror...and Nasrallah of Hizbollah tormented them...as they are doing now. They are alive, we'll kill them, they will know pain, etc. etc. And...as I write this - my phone has beeped again - more incoming katushyas in Safed and Nahariya.

Here is CNN: Israel bombed Beirut's international airport and blockaded Lebanon's ports today in a sharp escalation of its military campaign against Hezbollah guerrillas. Hezbollah fired back, WHY does it not say - Hizbollah fired rockets and in retaliation, Israel attacked Beirut's international airport? Do you think there were plans yesterday to attack Lebanon? We are responding...and yet the media continues to write - Israel escalates, Israel attacks...and Hizbollah responds and Hizbollah retaliates.

Copyright: Paula R. Stern 2006. All rights reserved.