http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Lebanon/10055683.html

Where is justice, human rights and the UN?
By Zoi Constantine, Staff Reporter



Dubai: The United States's complicity in the war currently being waged on Lebanon, and the rest of the world's silence in the face of the mounting death toll and destruction are indefensible.

So say members of the Gulf News Readers' Club, who have been unanimous in their condemnation of Israel's bombardment of Lebanon, and what they regard as inaction on the part of the rest of the world, including the Middle East.

Many members expressed their disappointment and frustration with the Arab world's lack of political response in the face of mounting deaths in Lebanon.

"The Arabs seem to have lost their conscience through fear of the US. Instead, some have even criticised Hezbollah for provoking Israel," said Murtaza Shamsi, 23.

Waqar Haq shares this view describing the reaction of the Arab world as "weak".

"Many Arab countries don't want to become another shattered Iraq or Afghanistan ? The fact is that Israel is a child of the US. Thus, the US can bully any country now without saying a single world."

"My view of the situation in Lebanon might sound biased, but the whole world is depicting the same bias. It looks as though there is a never ending era of hypocrisy on this planet," he said.

Briton Paul Sherlock views the current war in Lebanon through the wider vantage point of the protracted conflict in Palestine, calling for the Middle East's geopolitical bargaining chip to be utilised, and for the Arab world to "wake up".

"For once, it would be marvellous if all the Arab nations would speak as one and stand up to the Zionist land grabbers and murderers. If only the Arab oil producing countries and Iran, said "from tomorrow we are reducing production by 5 per cent per week until Israel agrees to return to '67 borders'."

However, blame is not placed solely on the Arab world, with many roundly criticising European countries and the United Nations.

"It is sad, if not pathetic that leaders such as Jacques Chirac and Kofi Annan still believe that Israel can be constrained by diplomacy," said Sherlock.

The US comes in for harsh criticism, with Canadian Barbara Cummings slamming the administration's lack of understanding of the real issues at stake.

"It is not difficult to understand George W. Bush's mono-vision and perception to the continuing slaughter of innocent civilians in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan, when one considers his ignorance of world issues," said Cummings.

"This is a world leader who obtained his first passport only upon taking office. In all likelihood, he thought Hezbollah was another African virus."

According to Cummings, even language is being manipulated in the increasingly fraught, broader Middle East conflict.

"These illegal incursions are accepted in the new circumlocution of the English language, where the apartheid security wall is a fence; freedom fighters are terrorists; collateral damage means death; and, bombs are an ordinance.

"How soon we have forgotten the Zionist Stern gang, who terrorised and murdered innocent British women and children in Palestine. Once known as a terrorist group, now they are hailed as 'freedom fighters'. Linguistic deception at its finest. Unfortunately, it's non-applicable to the democratically elected Hezbollah or Hamas."

Indian Milind Tikhe, 49, also regards Israel as the primary aggressor in this latest crisis in the Middle East conflict.

"Israel should immediately stop indiscriminate targeting of civilians. The International Committee for the Red Cross's (ICRC) reminder to distinguish between civilians and military personnel and targets is welcome, but must be strictly adhered to," he said.

"Israel must stop hampering relief operations. At the international level, all efforts should be made to resolve the crisis and put an immediate end to war in order to avoid further deaths."

Israel's ultimate end-game is of great concern to many. Murtaza Shamsi contends that Israel's objectives are broader than simply "destroying Hezbollah".

"Like before, their aim is to occupy territories of Lebanon, which they previously left under UN resolutions. This time, they have even disregarded the UN and deliberately attacked their mission, and all UN Secretary General Kofi Annan does is criticize Israel, without any assurance of concrete measures to curb Israel's blatant war-crimes."

Having witnessed similar devastation to his native Afghanistan, Norwegian Hewad Wolasmal believes one of the greatest tragedies is the widespread destruction of Lebanon.

"I have always admired how the Lebanese people were able to rebuild their country after three decades of war," he said. "But to see all that hard work evaporate in a matter of one week is heartbreaking.

"The worst part is that the whole world is a silent spectator, watching Lebanon burning. The Arab countries are turning a blind eye and join EU in its silence. Where is justice, human rights and the UN?"