"Israel blockades Lebanese waters"

[bloom]

Israel blockades Lebanese waters

Thursday, 13 July 2006, 07:49 GMT 08:49 UK

Israel has imposed a sea blockade on Lebanon and attacked Beirut airport and targets across the south in a major offensive over two captured soldiers.

Israeli strikes also hit a TV station run by the militant group Hezbollah, which seized the soldiers on Wednesday and has demanded a prisoner exchange.

The overnight air raids on some 40 southern targets left 27 people dead.

The offensive came as Israel continued a separate offensive in the Gaza Strip

over another captured soldier.

Israeli jets attacked the Palestinian foreign ministry building in Gaza City....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5175160.stm

[bloom]

1. Escalation - "Israelis Enter Lebanon After Attacks"

By GREG MYRE and STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: July 13, 2006

JERUSALEM, Thursday, July 13 — The Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah surprised Israel with a bold daylight assault across the border on Wednesday, leading to fighting in which two Israeli soldiers were captured and at least eight killed, and elevating recent tensions into a serious two-front battle.

(Israeli warplanes bombed Beirut's international airport before dawn Thursday and killed 27 Lebanese civilians in a series of raids.) - image

An Israeli artillery unit fired across the border into Lebanon Wednesday after Hezbollah fighters launched a raid into Israel, killing eight soldiers.

Israel, already waging a military operation in the Gaza Strip to free a soldier captured by Palestinian militants on June 25, immediately responded by sending armored forces into southern Lebanon for the first time in six years.

Early on Thursday morning, Israeli warplanes fired missiles at the runways at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, shutting the airport and potentially stranding thousands of visitors at the peak of tourist season. Israeli warplanes also hit numerous locations in southern Lebanon, adding to the civilian death toll. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying that the airport was a target because Hezbollah receives weapons shipments there.

The Israeli government also confirmed that Hezbollah fired several Katyusha rockets into northern Israel, injuring three people.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/middleeast/13mideast.html?ex=1153454400&en=de32712305dab9ea&ei=5040&partner=MOREOVERNEWS

[Selatius]

2. This is the dumbest war I have ever seen

Why Hezbollah would elect to provoke Israel at this time is one I can only guess is the result of what happened in Gaza, but I think Israel's response to the abduction of two IDF soldiers by blockading Lebanon's ports and bombing its airport is disproportionate and more harmful than beneficial.

This whole episode is a dance of insanity.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. What should Israel do?

[Selatius]

4. A response proportionate to the first act would've been preferable

But I don't believe blockading the country's ports and cratering it's runways and accidentally killing 22 civilians in the process is a proportionate response to the abduction of two soldiers and the killing of several others in the original raid.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. So kidnapping Hizb'allah terrorists?

Somehow, I think that action would have even met with international (and DU) disgust.

[Selatius]

11. I was thinking more like precision strikes on a few positions

But a coastal blockade and the cratering of airport runways and several dozen sorties of IAF warplanes isn't what I would've recommended. It's disproportionate and would be seen as a new escalation on top of the first one.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. The thing is...

...nothing Israel could do would be "appropriate." It has become nothing more than a "blame Israel" game for many folks. I have been more than disgusted by many posts here. They don't even belong in I/P, but rather, in a new forum of "the Israeli conspiracy!"

The real problem is Israel's enemies are cowards that hide behind civilians and in other sovereign nations, who willingly harbor them, then cry "foul" when Israel responds to attacks by the terrorists that are holed up in their countries.

[blurp]

16. Israel is more powerful and therefore always wrong.

I think that's the logic used around here.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Seems to be.

I liken this to a taller man constantly getting punched by smaller men. When the taller man responds, he is being the "bully," despite the smaller men's constant kicking his shins, punching his stomach, and poking him with a stick.

[Posteritatis]

67. Best analogy ever of the day. (n/t)

[Selatius]

20. Well, then the "blame Israel first" crowd is blind

Israel was well within its right to weigh a military option with respect to abduction of IDF soldiers. The only question is to what extent the military option would take; that's my sticking point. If Iran sunk a US destroyer in the Hormuz Strait with one of their warplanes, I would argue it's well within right of the US fleet to track that plane and crater that airbase that that plane came from as a measured response provided that it was an isolated incident and not the opening move of an Iranian military campaign.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. This has been most pleasant!

Although we may not often agree, this is what I always imagined discussing I/P to be!

Over-reactions are not uncommon. And, while they may not be excusable, they can be understood, the same way that riots can be understood. You can only push someone (or, in this case, a country) so many times before a threshold is breached.

So, in your opinion, what would have been a reasonable response? Now, i don't know about you, but negotiating with terrorists really isn't an option. They have learned that attacks on Israel are "acts of attrition." They lose NOTHING by attacking Israel and have everything to gain, including the defamation of Israel.

[Selatius]

23. Keep Hezbollah commanders busy worried about dying

Mossad is good in this respect, very good. If they continue to refuse to give up the two soldiers, have Mossad hit squads kill one Hezbollah field commander every 48 hours or whatever you think is an appropriate time table until they give them up. I am pretty sure Mossad knows who is in the Hezbollah hierarchy to some degree in south Lebanon, and I'm pretty sure they can follow most of them if enough effort is put behind it. This has been done with several high ranking Hamas members in the past. It should be a two-pronged approach, though.

At the same time, I would order Mossad to do whatever it can to find where those soldiers are. If they are located before Hezbollah gives them over, break them out. If they are given up before they are found, just as well. The point is the soldiers are freed. Once they are freed, get the soldiers and the hit squads evacuated.

It may or may not sit well with the international community, but I would say it's adequate and clean enough as far as avoiding civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. You need a scalpel, not a broadsword.

[AngryAmish]

43. I think you give Mossad too much credit

Mossad has a well earned reputation for being perhaps the best intelligence service in the world. I think that if they knew where the field commanders of Hezbollah were they would be targeting them.

Please remember that Lebanon and Isreal are not friendly. It is awful hard to maintain hit squads in a hostile nation. If the hit squads get discovered then they are all dead.

What would I do? I wish I could tell you. Peace.

[Selatius]

45. At this point, I think the situation has gone out of control of Israel now

International help is needed to call a ceasefire now, in my opinion.

[AngryAmish]

49. Diplomatic or peacekeepers on the ground?

[Selatius]

60. Whatever is necessary to break the cycle of violence

This is rapidly getting out of control.

[jsamuel]

27. Unfortunately

What I have learned, is that Israel was ready to invade a country for very little to no good reasoning at all. I don't respect that. I have learned not to respect Israel's foreign policy at all. I think they have learned that Israel's actions far outdo their own and they have learned that they want to respond even more.

I think this whole thing is just going to brew more terrorism... just like Iraq.

[MyNameGoesHere]

34. Negotiating with terrorists isn't really

an option? But in this day and age ALL Muslims have the terrorists brand applied to them regardless if they are. So basically the thought here is that there will be NO negotiations period. So what the frigg does that get us? War. The lamest goshdang line in republican/conservative history is the old standard "we don't negotiate with terrorists" What a crock. Just come out and say we are not going to negotiate with Arabs.

[Behind the Aegis]

36. Do not tell me what I mean.

Israel is dealing with terrorists on two fronts now, but if you are willing to pass them off as not being so because the Republican government misuses the term, that is your folly! Your anti-Arab baiting is sickening as is your implication that I must be republican/conservative.

[MyNameGoesHere]

70. I never said anyone here

and i am not baiting. This is what you see and hear all the time. We do not negotiate with terrorists. It's a crock. And if you are offended by thinking i am calling you a republican maybe you should examine that. Never said it. It is used in right wing propaganda though quite nicely.
And Israel is not "Dealing" with terrorism. It is doing what it always has and it is going to get the same result. More terrorists will take the place of the dead ones.

[Behind the Aegis]

72. Very simply, you implied it!

Despite what some believe, there are real, live, honest-to-G-d, terrorists. I have nothing to examine, as the labeling of pro-Israelis as neo-cons, rethugs, etc., is not a new tactic here.

[MyNameGoesHere]

73. Of course they are

and you are pro israel? i would never have guessed. I am not really pro anything when it comes to the killing. Just wish it would stop and people would actually find a way to get along. i just think saying we will never negotiate with terrorists for 40 50 years and getting the same damn result over and over again is insanity. Smart people should be able to find a better way, but dammit that we dont negotiate rule keeps getting in the way.

[Behind the Aegis]

76. ...and there it is again...

Because I am pro-Israeli, I am pro-killing? Or was that just an unfortunate juxtaposition?

There is a very good reason people don't negotiate with terrorists, because it encourages more of the same. However, I am not opposed to third-party intervention and a de-escalation in all hostile activities.

[MyNameGoesHere]

80. If no one has negotiated

with terrorists in a .. well i cant ever remember negotiations. So when do we try something different? You hit me, i hit back, you throw a rock, i throw a spear. on and on. When is the actual sit down and reconciling the problems? I am sorry i just don't see anything ever happening to make matters better. I guess the best i can hope for is that one side or the other FINALLY annihilates the other. I am guessing even then they would need a new enemy.

[in_cog_ni_to]

56. Where has ANYONE here said ALL Muslims are terrorists? NOWHERE.

However, HEZBOLLAH is and has been a terrorist group for as long as I can remember. Hezbollah started this. Apparently, they like war.

[MyNameGoesHere]

71. Ahh bad grammer

i didn't mean "Here" as in DU. I meant it is used in rw propaganda machines. And maybe they are just tired of an oppressor? I mean we were insurgents/terrorists in the eyes of king george i am sure. But when you win the war you get to change your name to "patriot" or "freedom fighter"

[in_cog_ni_to]

78. Tired of an oppressor? Let's see who's at fault here:

Let's see who the agressors are here:

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War is referred to as the "War of Independence" (Hebrew: מלחמת העצמאות or as the "War of Liberation" (Hebrew: מלחמת השחרור by Israelis. For Palestinians, the war marked the beginning of the events referred to as "The Catastrophe" ("al Nakba," Arabic: النكبة . After the United Nations partitioned the territory of the British Mandate of Palestine into two states, Jewish and Arab, the Arabs refused to accept it and the armies of Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon and Iraq, supported by others, attacked the newly established State of Israel. It was the first in a series of open wars in the Arab-Israeli conflict. As a result, the region was divided between Israel, Egypt and Transjordan.




The Six-Day War (Hebrew: מלחמת ששת הימים transliteration: Milkhemet Sheshet HaYamim, Arabic: حرب الأيام الستة transliteration: ħarb al-ayam as-sita), also known as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Six Days War, or June War, was fought between Israel and the nearby Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. Egyptian aggression initiated the war as Egypt formed a blockade of Israeli shipping in the Straits of Tiran, removed the UNEF peacekeeping forces from the Sinai, and deployed a large military force in the Sinai on the Israeli border. <1> <2> <3> Responding in an act of defense, Israel launched a preemptive attack against Egypt. <4> <5> <6> <7> Jordan in turn attacked the Israeli cities of Jerusalem and Netanya. <8> <9> At the war's end, Israel had gained control of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. The results of the war affect the geopolitics of the region to this day.



War of Attrition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from 1970 War of Attrition)
Jump to: navigation, search
This is about the Israeli-Egyptian War of Attrition. For the military strategy, see Attrition warfare, for the game theoretical model see War of attrition (game).
Arab-Israeli conflict
1920 riots · Jaffa riots · 1929 riots · 1936-1939 uprising · 1948 Arab-Israeli War · 1956 Suez Crisis · 1967 Six-Day War · War of Attrition · 1973 Yom Kippur War · 1982 Lebanon War · First Intifada · al-Aqsa Intifada · 2006 Arab-Israeli War
The War of Attrition was a limited war fought between Egypt and Israel from 1968 to 1970. It was initiated by Egypt as a way to recapture the Sinai from Israel, which had controlled it since the Six-Day War. The war ended with a cease-fire signed between the countries in 1970 with frontiers at the same place as when the war started.




The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War (Hebrew: מלחמת יום הכיפורים; transliterated: Milkhemet Yom HaKipurim or מלחמת יום כיפור, Milkhemet Yom Kipur; Arabic: حرب أكتوبر‎; transliterated: ħarb October or حرب تشرين, ħarb Tishrin), also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to October 26, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab nations led by Egypt and Syria. The war began on the day of Yom Kippur with a surprise joint attack by Egypt and Syria. They invaded the Sinai and Golan Heights, respectively, which had been captured by Israel in 1967 during the Six-Day War.<2>

The Egyptians and Syrians advanced during the first 24–48 hours, after which momentum began to swing in Israel's favor. By the second week of the war, the Syrians had been pushed entirely out of the Golan Heights. In the Sinai to the south, the Israelis had struck at the "seam" between two invading Egyptian armies, crossed the Suez Canal (where the old ceasefire line had been), and cut off an entire Egyptian army just as a United Nations cease-fire came into effect.

The war had far-reaching implications for many nations. The Arab world, which had been humiliated by the lopsided defeat of the Egyptian-Syrian-Jordanian alliance during the Six-Day War, felt psychologically vindicated by its string of victories early in the conflict. This vindication paved the way for the peace process that followed, as well as liberalizations such as Egypt's infitah policy. The Camp David Accords, which came soon after, led to normalized relations between Egypt and Israel—the first time any Arab country had recognized the Israeli state. Egypt, which had already been drifting away from the Soviet Union, then left the Soviet sphere of influence almost entirely.


as well as a number of lesser conflicts. A major theme in the history of the conflict has been the refusal of Arab nations to create a Palestinian state that would not involve the destruction of Israel. In the course of the conflict, many Arabs were displaced from what is now Israel, and many Jews were displaced from what is now Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen (see Palestinian refugees and Jewish exodus from Arab lands). The conflict has also been the source of two major Palestinian intifadas (uprisings). Al-Qaeda, a largely Arab organization, has cited the conflict among its justifications for attacks on targets in the West.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab-Israeli_conflict

Wow. Israel has been outrageously agressive, haven't they?

[MyNameGoesHere]

79. probably not

but they sure haven't been smarter in their dealings.

[Recursion]

74. Will someone remind me why it's not an option?

The line is it encourages more kidnappings, but refusing to negotiate sure hasn't stopped them.

Stop calling it terrorism. That's the first step. It's war. In war you negotiate with your enemy over your captured troops.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

85. What, Are You Kidding?

Isolated or not, deliberately sinking another country's naval vessel is an act of war and a classic casus belli. If Iran did that, it would absolutely be war. And the US would be well within its rights to engage in it.

Of course, we would need to be alert and vigilant to make sure it wasn't a USS Maine situation, but if it all really checked out, it's not a close call.

DTH

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

68. Proportionate response

How about these for options:
Blowing up a wedding party
Blowing up Birthday parties
Blowing up commuter busses
Blowing up people having lunch on a nice day

Those what you had in mind as like-for-like responses?

Look at the history of the Jewish Palestinians and you will see the Israelis have been playing defense since before the 1920's.

[Terran1212]

38. The US harbors international terrorists

People who have killed hundreds or thousands in Haiti, Cuba, Nigeria, etc.

How would it be tolerated if Cuba attacked our Congress, burned our government buildings down, bombed our airports, and kidnapped thousands of our citizens?

This is NOT how you handle conflicts. That's because Israel wants to reassert control over these areas, not defend itself.

[blurp]

10. We'd still be fighting WWII if "proportionate response" was the answer

[Selatius]

13. There was no reason to believe the US was safe from annihilation

Israel is not dealing with a superpower or a cluster of superpowers. It is dealing with fighters who are nowhere near that level of threat.

[cobalt1999]

28. I don't think the response is about the soldiers...

the response is designed to get Lebanon to put it's military on its border with Israel. Right now, Lebanon has effectively seceded that part of their country to terrorist groups. I think they are trying to make the situation so bad that Lebanon HAS to move it's military into the south.

[blurp]

6. They're expected to just "take it".

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Seems to be a popular "unstated" opinion.

[Selatius]

8. Nonsense

[blurp]

12. Nonsense is Israel playing nice

It's gotten them nowhere.

[Selatius]

14. "Playing nice" is a strawman I won't defend.

[High Plains]

41. Israel playing nice? Ha ha ha ha ha.

[TomClash]

24. Exactly what it did in 2004

Exchange prisoners.

Intentionally killing scores of civilians, including Lebanese and Palestinian children, means more Israeli civilians will die.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. exchange prisoners.

:shrug:

[enigmacat]

5. All war is dumb

and unnecessary, with few exceptions. This is not one of them, and I totally agree with your sentiment.

[Robbien]

17. It surprises me that Hezbollah has waited this long

People in Gaza have been bombed now for two weeks and are without clean water and electricity. Israel has not been allowing food and medical shipments into Gaza so the people are sitting in the dark and starving.

Hezbollah probably felt it had to do something.

And remember, the bombs Israel is dropping all over the Middle East is paid for by our US tax dollars.

So sad.

[Behind the Aegis]

19. puh-lease!

Hizb'allah doesn't give a shit about the Palestinian cause! They are self-serving terrorists trying to "reclaim" the Shebba Farms, which is Syrian property anyway!

[Robbien]

22. Throwing around the word terrorist

makes your arguement meaningless. It is a code word used by BushCo to justify their preemptive war actions. Remember now all Democrats/liberals/progressives are being labelled terrorists by many on the right. A meaningless term.

Hezbollah is a vast organization, some parts good, some bad.

[Behind the Aegis]

29. They are a terrorist group.

The ones that invaded Israeli space are terrorists. And while they may have a political arm, that is clearly not who the Israelis are dealing with. Just because the word terrorist is used capriciously in some events doesn't negate that real terrorists, like the ones we see here, exist!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

39. Aren't Hezbollah the duly elected government?

That sort of implies they aren't really terrorists. Anymore than the Israeli government.

[Behind the Aegis]

42. No, they are not.

While there are some in the government, like Hamas, they have two branches. The one engaging Israel are terrorists that have held So. Lebanon hostage, but now also hold Israeli hostages, which is why Israel reacted.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

53. Ah, I was thinking of Hamas.

pardon me.

[Clark2008]

46. Well, it is a political party in Lebanon.

Hezbollah is the main political party representing the Shia community, Lebanon's largest religious bloc. Founded with the aid of Iran, it follows the distinctly Shiite Islamist ideology developed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It calls for the establishment of an Islamic state in Lebanon, on the principle of sovereignty of the jurisconsult, although recognising that this could only come about with the consensus of the Lebanese people.

Hezbollah is an active participant in the political life and processes of Lebanon, and its scope of operation is far beyond its initial militant one. In 1992, it participated in elections for the first time, winning 12 out of 128 seats in parliament. It won 10 seats in 1996, and 8 in 2000. In the general election of 2005, it won 23 seats nationwide, and an Amal-Hezbollah alliance won all 23 seats in Southern Lebanon. Since the end of the Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon on May 22, 2000, Hezbollah has been involved in activities like building schools, clinics, and hospitals.

That's the side you don't know. All we seem to hear in the states is in regards to the terrorist side of the movement.

We have to remember that one man's terrorist organization is another group's freedom fighter. We must not forget that.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

54. Well, sure.

The difference between a pirate and a privateer is a commission.

[in_cog_ni_to]

35. LOL! hahahahaha! Riiiight. Like Hamas, eh? Sorry, but Hezbollah

was called a "terrorist group" LONG before the psycho-in-chief co-opted the word. Hezbollah started this war, now Israel is suppose to not defend herself? That's just ridiculous.

[Tarc]

81. Defense, yes

But the nation of Lebanon itself is not the aggressor, it is a small faciton of terrroists in the south that is. There is no reason for Israel to bomb their airports, this is ridiculous, heavey-handed, and counterproductive.

[in_cog_ni_to]

82. No it's not ridiculous. How much is Isarel suppose to take?

Let's see who the agressors are here:

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War is referred to as the "War of Independence" (Hebrew: מלחמת העצמאות or as the "War of Liberation" (Hebrew: מלחמת השחרור by Israelis. For Palestinians, the war marked the beginning of the events referred to as "The Catastrophe" ("al Nakba," Arabic: النكبة . After the United Nations partitioned the territory of the British Mandate of Palestine into two states, Jewish and Arab, the Arabs refused to accept it and the armies of Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon and Iraq, supported by others, attacked the newly established State of Israel. It was the first in a series of open wars in the Arab-Israeli conflict. As a result, the region was divided between Israel, Egypt and Transjordan.




The Six-Day War (Hebrew: מלחמת ששת הימים transliteration: Milkhemet Sheshet HaYamim, Arabic: حرب الأيام الستة transliteration: ħarb al-ayam as-sita), also known as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Six Days War, or June War, was fought between Israel and the nearby Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. Egyptian aggression initiated the war as Egypt formed a blockade of Israeli shipping in the Straits of Tiran, removed the UNEF peacekeeping forces from the Sinai, and deployed a large military force in the Sinai on the Israeli border. <1> <2> <3> Responding in an act of defense, Israel launched a preemptive attack against Egypt. <4> <5> <6> <7> Jordan in turn attacked the Israeli cities of Jerusalem and Netanya. <8> <9> At the war's end, Israel had gained control of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. The results of the war affect the geopolitics of the region to this day.



War of Attrition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from 1970 War of Attrition)
Jump to: navigation, search
This is about the Israeli-Egyptian War of Attrition. For the military strategy, see Attrition warfare, for the game theoretical model see War of attrition (game).
Arab-Israeli conflict
1920 riots · Jaffa riots · 1929 riots · 1936-1939 uprising · 1948 Arab-Israeli War · 1956 Suez Crisis · 1967 Six-Day War · War of Attrition · 1973 Yom Kippur War · 1982 Lebanon War · First Intifada · al-Aqsa Intifada · 2006 Arab-Israeli War
The War of Attrition was a limited war fought between Egypt and Israel from 1968 to 1970. It was initiated by Egypt as a way to recapture the Sinai from Israel, which had controlled it since the Six-Day War. The war ended with a cease-fire signed between the countries in 1970 with frontiers at the same place as when the war started.




The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War (Hebrew: מלחמת יום הכיפורים; transliterated: Milkhemet Yom HaKipurim or מלחמת יום כיפור, Milkhemet Yom Kipur; Arabic: حرب أكتوبر‎; transliterated: ħarb October or حرب تشرين, ħarb Tishrin), also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to October 26, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab nations led by Egypt and Syria. The war began on the day of Yom Kippur with a surprise joint attack by Egypt and Syria. They invaded the Sinai and Golan Heights, respectively, which had been captured by Israel in 1967 during the Six-Day War.<2>

The Egyptians and Syrians advanced during the first 24–48 hours, after which momentum began to swing in Israel's favor. By the second week of the war, the Syrians had been pushed entirely out of the Golan Heights. In the Sinai to the south, the Israelis had struck at the "seam" between two invading Egyptian armies, crossed the Suez Canal (where the old ceasefire line had been), and cut off an entire Egyptian army just as a United Nations cease-fire came into effect.

The war had far-reaching implications for many nations. The Arab world, which had been humiliated by the lopsided defeat of the Egyptian-Syrian-Jordanian alliance during the Six-Day War, felt psychologically vindicated by its string of victories early in the conflict. This vindication paved the way for the peace process that followed, as well as liberalizations such as Egypt's infitah policy. The Camp David Accords, which came soon after, led to normalized relations between Egypt and Israel—the first time any Arab country had recognized the Israeli state. Egypt, which had already been drifting away from the Soviet Union, then left the Soviet sphere of influence almost entirely.


as well as a number of lesser conflicts. A major theme in the history of the conflict has been the refusal of Arab nations to create a Palestinian state that would not involve the destruction of Israel. In the course of the conflict, many Arabs were displaced from what is now Israel, and many Jews were displaced from what is now Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen (see Palestinian refugees and Jewish exodus from Arab lands). The conflict has also been the source of two major Palestinian intifadas (uprisings). Al-Qaeda, a largely Arab organization, has cited the conflict among its justifications for attacks on targets in the West.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab-Israeli_conflict

Wow. Israel has been outrageously agressive, haven't they?

[Tarc]

89. Yes, they have been the aggressors

Hard to begrudge nations seeking to take back territory that Israel was, and still is, illegally occupying.

[Clark2008]

32. And just because Israel is a "government" doesn't mean

it should act like terrorists - and it does.

[Bretttido]

61. Seriously, stop spouting that they're terrorists...

[malaise]

25. Israel does not care

Bush supports chaos. A pox on all their houses.

[Solo_in_MD]

26. Guess: Prisioner Exchange

For a while it looked like there was going to be a prisoner exchange to end fighting in the west bank. Several prominent PA/Hamas leaders had made statements to that effect. They wanted to get in on that action. The "Arab Street" is not that in touch with the real world, so they were probably surprised by the IDF response.

[roamer65]

30. There is one dumber

our invasion of Iraq.

[Posteritatis]

65. Meh, WWI out-dumbs *everything*. (n/t)

[Roland99]

83. I've been trying to wrap my brain around this level of warfare, myself.

The apparent kidnapping of two soldiers is worth all of this death and destruction?

Do we know for sure Hezbollah has done this?

[cali]

87. Yes we do know

They've taken credit for it. In addition, 8 soldiers were killed when the two were abducted, and H'zbollah shot off rockets into Israel.

[in_cog_ni_to]

33. GOOD. Maybe Israel can finally rid itself of Hezbollah.

Oh, I forgot...Bad Israel. What on earth are they doing? They should just stop defending their country from these kindhearted Hezzbollah people. Please, Israel, don't block Lebanese waters. Don't bomb their airport. Just stop and let Hezbollah blow up your country and let them have those useless Israeli soldiers...who needs 'em anyway? It's just 2 soldiers! and besides that, Israel has a military! It shouldn't defend itself!...you warmongers!

Apparently, Hezbollah wanted a war...guess what? They got it.

[Clark2008]

48. I think you'll find that no thinks Israel shouldn't protect her

soldiers - most of us just think they're going WAAAAYYYY overboard.

It's already a powder keg in that part of the world. Why can't the most militarily powerful and influential nation in the Middle East - Israel - act in a calm and rational matter. You know, walk softly and carry a big stick?

[in_cog_ni_to]

51. Why can't Hezbollah act in a calm and reasonable manner?

This is their fault. Not Israel's fault. How many suicide bombs, rockets into Israel and kidnapped soldiers are too many? How much does Israel have to take to make you people see what's going on? Israel can do no right. That's just ridiculous. Hezbollah is comitted to the destruction of Israel, as is Hamas. What about that is too hard to understand?

[Clark2008]

63. And Israel, by it's actions for 60 years, is committed to

the destruction of surrounding Arab nations (don't forget that part).

I do believe that Israel has been racheting up its bullying since Hamas was elected in Gaza - and that factors into this long-term brooding, as well. Not that I'm excusing Hezbollah for its actions, but it's, quite honestly, more of an annoying fly to Israel's massive fly-swatters: it can draw a little blood in its bite, but it's really no match for Israel's 500-pound bug zappers.

In any case, someone's got to stop the bloodshed before it spreads all throughout the region and the world. Israel has the power of the United States' diplomats (such as they are, but I'm sure there are professionals if Bush hasn't totally gotten rid of them) to swoop in and negotiate instead of bombing one another to kingdom come.

The fact that Israel hasn't flexed this muscle is odd, don't you think? It's like THEY wanted this war, as well.

Israel has the upper hand: the have the military power, the money and the U.S.'s ear. They're the only ones who CAN stop this. Do you think the neo-cons in the Bush Adminsitration are going to listen to Hezbollah? Hardly. But they'll listen if Israel requested diplomatic aid.

That's why the ball is in Israel's court and they owe it to mankind to use all its influence to prevent a war that could escalate well beyond the Lebanese borders. It's their duty as an allegedly democratic nation.

[in_cog_ni_to]

77. It's Israel's duty to not defend herself? No, I think it's Hezbollah's

and Hamas' duty to stop attacking Israel and kidnapping her soldiers. Why is it only ISRAEL has to be the grown up here? That's just crap. They owe it to mankind to use all its influence to prevent war? Where's Hezbollah's and Hamas' responsibility in all this? Just because Israel is powerful doesn't mean she has to live a life of fear of these radical terrorists.

I don't think Israel flexing her muscle at this is odd at all. They have kidnapped soldiers (Hamas AND Hezbollah) and lobbed bombs over the border. They're suppose to just take it? I disagree. Enough is enough at SOME point. THIS is the point. Hezbollah WANTED this war and they got exactly what they wanted.

You speak of Israel's actions over the last 60 years, but neglected to inclue the PLO, Hamas, al aqsa brigade, Syria, Egypt and Hezbollah and their aim to destroy Israel. Why is that? Just an oversight, I'm sure. Israel hasn't always been this powerful. She has HAD to become this powerful because of THEM. Let's see who the agressors are here:

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War is referred to as the "War of Independence" (Hebrew: מלחמת העצמאות) or as the "War of Liberation" (Hebrew: מלחמת השחרור) by Israelis. For Palestinians, the war marked the beginning of the events referred to as "The Catastrophe" ("al Nakba," Arabic: النكبة). After the United Nations partitioned the territory of the British Mandate of Palestine into two states, Jewish and Arab, the Arabs refused to accept it and the armies of Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon and Iraq, supported by others, attacked the newly established State of Israel. It was the first in a series of open wars in the Arab-Israeli conflict. As a result, the region was divided between Israel, Egypt and Transjordan.




The Six-Day War (Hebrew: מלחמת ששת הימים transliteration: Milkhemet Sheshet HaYamim, Arabic: حرب الأيام الستة transliteration: ħarb al-ayam as-sita), also known as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Six Days War, or June War, was fought between Israel and the nearby Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. Egyptian aggression initiated the war as Egypt formed a blockade of Israeli shipping in the Straits of Tiran, removed the UNEF peacekeeping forces from the Sinai, and deployed a large military force in the Sinai on the Israeli border. <1> <2> <3> Responding in an act of defense, Israel launched a preemptive attack against Egypt. <4> <5> <6> <7> Jordan in turn attacked the Israeli cities of Jerusalem and Netanya. <8> <9> At the war's end, Israel had gained control of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. The results of the war affect the geopolitics of the region to this day.



War of Attrition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from 1970 War of Attrition)
Jump to: navigation, search
This is about the Israeli-Egyptian War of Attrition. For the military strategy, see Attrition warfare, for the game theoretical model see War of attrition (game).
Arab-Israeli conflict
1920 riots · Jaffa riots · 1929 riots · 1936-1939 uprising · 1948 Arab-Israeli War · 1956 Suez Crisis · 1967 Six-Day War · War of Attrition · 1973 Yom Kippur War · 1982 Lebanon War · First Intifada · al-Aqsa Intifada · 2006 Arab-Israeli War
The War of Attrition was a limited war fought between Egypt and Israel from 1968 to 1970. It was initiated by Egypt as a way to recapture the Sinai from Israel, which had controlled it since the Six-Day War. The war ended with a cease-fire signed between the countries in 1970 with frontiers at the same place as when the war started.




The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War (Hebrew: מלחמת יום הכיפורים; transliterated: Milkhemet Yom HaKipurim or מלחמת יום כיפור, Milkhemet Yom Kipur; Arabic: حرب أكتوبر‎; transliterated: ħarb October or حرب تشرين, ħarb Tishrin), also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to October 26, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab nations led by Egypt and Syria. The war began on the day of Yom Kippur with a surprise joint attack by Egypt and Syria. They invaded the Sinai and Golan Heights, respectively, which had been captured by Israel in 1967 during the Six-Day War.<2>

The Egyptians and Syrians advanced during the first 24–48 hours, after which momentum began to swing in Israel's favor. By the second week of the war, the Syrians had been pushed entirely out of the Golan Heights. In the Sinai to the south, the Israelis had struck at the "seam" between two invading Egyptian armies, crossed the Suez Canal (where the old ceasefire line had been), and cut off an entire Egyptian army just as a United Nations cease-fire came into effect.

The war had far-reaching implications for many nations. The Arab world, which had been humiliated by the lopsided defeat of the Egyptian-Syrian-Jordanian alliance during the Six-Day War, felt psychologically vindicated by its string of victories early in the conflict. This vindication paved the way for the peace process that followed, as well as liberalizations such as Egypt's infitah policy. The Camp David Accords, which came soon after, led to normalized relations between Egypt and Israel—the first time any Arab country had recognized the Israeli state. Egypt, which had already been drifting away from the Soviet Union, then left the Soviet sphere of influence almost entirely.


as well as a number of lesser conflicts. A major theme in the history of the conflict has been the refusal of Arab nations to create a Palestinian state that would not involve the destruction of Israel. In the course of the conflict, many Arabs were displaced from what is now Israel, and many Jews were displaced from what is now Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen (see Palestinian refugees and Jewish exodus from Arab lands). The conflict has also been the source of two major Palestinian intifadas (uprisings). Al-Qaeda, a largely Arab organization, has cited the conflict among its justifications for attacks on targets in the West.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab-Israeli_conflict

Wow. Israel has been outrageously agressive, haven't they?

[Jacobin]

50. Kinda ironic, that peace sign avatar

I'm just sayin'....

[in_cog_ni_to]

52. Isn't it? I want PEACE in Israel and others don't.

Yes, it is ironic.

[Jacobin]

57. gotcha

[Bretttido]

62. Exchanging prisoners is peaceful... this, however, is not.

[in_cog_ni_to]

64. Lobbing bombs into Israel and kidnapping soldiers isn't peaceful either.

Where's your outrage? There's always excuses why Israel is the bad guy in everything they due. It's sickening. Israel: The ONLY Democratic country in the region suroounded by countries and terrorist groups who want nothing less than the blood of every Jewish man, woman and child flowing through the streets into the sea. Yet, blame Israel for everything and make excuses for Hezbollah and Hamas. That makes a lot of sense.:eyes:

[Bretttido]

86. I never said Lebanon was not in the wrong as well, nor did I make excuses

From reading your posts on this matter, you obviously have knee-jerk reactions to any criticism of Isreal. Perhaps you should slow down... read what we say before jumping to conclusions.

Just because Hezbollah pulls off a stupid ass move doesn't mean Isreal has to do the same. An eye for an eye and the world goes blind.

[shance]

88. Cog, you probably have no idea how racist you sound.

However, I have to call it to your attention. You are pretty blindly and naively blaming on some undefined "terrorist groups".

Who are the real terrorists Cog? And Im not talking about Israel or Palestine. Wishful thinking if you think its the Lebanese, or Iranians or any other Arab nation are at the top of the power circle.

Take a more honest look at who the REAL terrorists are. They happen to reside in our own very country.

And remember, terrorism, like racism, is all in how you look at it. One man's "terrorist" is another man's freedom fighter.

With that said, the extremists governing Israels military killing spree is WAY out of hand.

I can't figure out what the call for genocide of the Arabs is other than pure unalderated ignorance, prejudice, racism and white supremecy by a bunch of rich, white, privileged racist males.

We are all going to be hurt by this war.

And guess who's going to skate by the easiest? The rich boys from Yale will walk over the dead bodies to pick up their super sized check, with everyone elses lives destroyed and/or forever changed. Take a look at who the real villains are. Don't be distracted by what they want you to see. Look behind the curtain.

The people you think are your enemies are anything but. You've got your eye on the wrong guys.

All you have to do is look in our very own back yard.

[theboss]

37. So, Israel is right back to where it started from

It's going to be occupying Lebanon and engaging in missle attacks across the border once again.

The Middle East is like being trapped in a barrel going down a hill. You keep ending up in the same place...until you hit a tree.

[Jacobin]

40. I keep thinking

That after WWII, when the European Jews wanted a homeland, if they had chosen a part of the world (okay, not their historic homeland) that had a more pliable indigenous population, if perhaps all would be happier now. Like some rain forest in South America, perhaps.

(running away)

[theboss]

44. Long Island would have made more sense

I'm a supporter of Israel. I think the US should do everything reasonable to protect it.

I just don't see a way out for everyone involved though. I imagine in 50 years, we will be reading about a war between Israel and Syria. The status quo does seem to go on forever.

[Recursion]

75. Germany would have made the most sense.

"Israel 2" could have been a buffer between East and West, even...

[mediaman007]

84. If the World set up a Jewish nation in Montana, do you think that there

would be any repercussions? If we give North Carolina to the Christian Right, would everyone in NC accept the decision and move on?

I used to be 100% behind Israel...but Sharon's actions(some say encouraged by Neocons) to derail Clinton's peace initiatives, and his subsequent unilateral behaviors made me step back and consider that the Palestinians have some grievances.

[TahitiNut]

47. Israel is obviously attacking Hezbollah's Navy and Air Force.

:sarcasm:

More seriously, how could anyone not be appalled? The primary impact of destroying runways at Beirut's airport would be to inhibit civilian evacuation and the arrival of diplomatic and humanitarian missions. Atrocious.

[bloom]

55. I'm appalled.

And you make good points. That does seem to be where this is going. People being stuck - being sitting ducks. :(

[burythehatchet]

58. I heard their aircraft carrier group

is steaming back from aoutheast Asia.

[Midlodemocrat]

59. Except they spun it as trying to prevent Hezbollah from

leaving Beirut with the two Israelis soldiers and also preventing Iran and Syria from sending supplies.

God, this is just awful. Well, Bush got what he wanted, here comes WWIII.

[in_cog_ni_to]

66. spun it? Why is it everything that Isarel does is 'spinning' and everythin

Hezbollah and Hamas do is "justified?" Do you know for a FACT it's a lie? Do you have a link?

[Midlodemocrat]

69. I certainly don't think that Israel is spinning and everything

Hamas and Hezbollah does is okay under any circumstances. It's just a word. A word used often by the news media to portray a difference of interpretation.

I was referring to the way it was portrayed on the news today to justify the bombings of the runways. In direct contrast to the post I was responding to which stated that it would prevent humanitarian efforts, that's all.

I can understand that is an emotional issue, probably more so for some rather than others, but don't rush to judge. The majority of us here are appalled at the Middle East violence irrespective of whose fault it is, this particular time.