Netanyahu: Israel has no plans to attack Lebanon

All said and done there will be a Lebanon III as the 2006 effort did not eradicate Hez and it remains a constant threat to the jew State. What has changed is the events in Gaza have put the actions of the IDF under a microscope when it comes to civilian deaths. The old hew and cry of we have the right to defend ourselves no longer holds water because of the Goldstone report. A quandary indeed and I wouldn?t even hazard a guess as to how events will actually unfold. and what the results will be.

"other sources mentioned that syria had begun calling up troops from the fourth reserve"... "other" sources? hmmmmm? immediately followed by a quote from "syrian" sources that sounds relatively generic: "syria opposes any aggression against any arab country, especially lebanon.? i'll venture that the "syrian" part in this is something that was "implied" by someone in hezbollah. and of course, hezbollah itself has good reason to be on high alert after the dunce's ravings about an attack on lebanon being imminent... but even then, according to the london article, the hezbollah "source" didn't confirm or deny that it was in a state of high alert?? so exactly WHERE does this story REALLY originate?

Those stockpiles of US weapons in Israel are actually placed there for a reason. The US military knows that Hezbollah may well receive orders from Tehran in order to attack Israeli civilian targets. The US military also knows that Tehran may well order Syria and Hamas into battle. What we do not know is the true amount or nature of said stockpiles. The fact that poor Syria has called up its reserves, both in Lebanon and in Syria shows only that Damascus will become a target as well. The winners will be Pres.Abbas and his Fatah members that in the end will march into Gaza City and liberate the oppressed population. As for the two remaining proxies and their host, well thats another story. The current government in Jerusalem is not divided when it comes to dealing with terrorist states. That is why Paris is warning those folk to tread softly. For France has its ears pretty close to the ground in its ex colonies. The regime in Tehran will be held accountable this time. Good day.

How many times has Israel flattened Lebanon and occupied it for several Years? And what did all these "victories" do for poor Israel? It can only get worse.

"Fanatics don't accept defeat unless they are all dead". So you are talking about zionists? After the 2006 war UNIFIL was put between the fanatics on both side and until this moment UNIFIL has protected Israel. Because your army is useless, and your soldier do not wish to die. On the other side the Original owners of the land do not mind to die, for their country and for justice.

... S. Lebanon. Where were you prior to 1982? What did you know of the goings on in that area at the time? Why do you think Israel attacked Lebanon then? Have you ever heard of Arafat & the PLO? Yes, the same Arafat & his thugs that were pounced on in Jordan by Hussein's forces who killed thousands back then in '70-'71 (Black September) for trying to usurp his government in a militant manner. Arafat & his terrorists were on their nomadic move hell-bent to establish and entrench themselves on land sharing a border with Israel; Egypt, Jordan, and Syria were too strong and would not accommodate him, and the Med. Sea was too unforgiving for his inability to swim, so poor, defenseless Lebanon became the prime destination to pitch his terrorist tent. Then came the PLO's reign of terror in Lebanon and their acts of war towards Israel and this is well known to everyone except you it seems. Arafat's saga ended with him on a forced sunset cruise from Beirut.

Is it possible for you to consider that what you consider provocation TO Israel is a response to provocation BY Israel?

" Palestinian nationalist Aref el-Aref explained in his history of the 1948 war: The Arabs thought they would win in less than the twinkling of an eye and that it would take no more than a day or two from the time the Arab armies crossed the border until all the colonies were conquered and the enemy would throw down his arms and cast himself on their mercy." or here: "On January 30, 1948, the Jaffa newspaper, Ash Sha'ab, reported: ?The first of our fifth column consists of those who abandon their houses and businesses and go to live elsewhere....At the first signs of trouble they take to their heels to escape sharing the burden of struggle.? "Another Jaffa paper, As Sarih (March 30, 1948) excoriated Arab villagers near Tel Aviv for ?bringing down disgrace on us all by 'abandoning the villages.? "John Bagot Glubb, the commander of Jordan's Arab Legion, said: ?Villages were frequently abandoned even before they were threatened by the progress of war? (London Daily Mail, August 12, 1948).

The other option is to experience hell in the south .....and rotate your next government.... BTW....2006 was an easy trainig for HA.

Why is Hezbollah arming illegal? by which law?

You do have plans, but, I don't think it would be a walk in the park like your attack on the people of Gaza.

Israel too has apparently put several genies back in the bottle over the past ten years - and you continuously complain about its right to do so. We all know that Israel is in the forefront of the the war against terrorist. Neither NATO, GB nor the US is going it alone - despite the fact that there is no existential threat on any of those countries or the citizens therein. You also think it was okay for ENgland to go to war for a small island thousands of miles away. The hypocracy of justifying the west's fight against terror to protect is citizenry while vilifying Israel's right to do the same is overwhemling.

Israel is as responsible for the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon as the Arab countries are responsible for all the JEws who fled/were kicked out of the those countries sans all their belongings and assets in the early days of Israel's existence. Lbanon should gove these people citizenship and allow them to work and study and to fully integrate into that country, as Israel did with Jewish refugees from both Euroipe and Arab countries.

... S. Lebanon. Where were you prior to 1982? What did you know of the goings on in that area at the time? Why do you think Israel attacked Lebanon then? Have you ever heard of Arafat & the PLO? Yes, the same Arafat & his thugs that were pounced on in Jordan by Hussein's forces who killed thousands back then in '70-'71 (Black September) for trying to usurp his government in a militant manner. Arafat & his terrorists were on their nomadic move, hell-bent to establish and entrench themselves on land sharing a border with Israel; Egypt, Jordan, and Syria were too strong and would not accommodate him, and the Med. Sea was too unforgiving for his inability to swim, so poor, defenseless Lebanon became the prime destination to pitch his terrorist tent. Then came the PLO's reign of terror in Lebanon and their acts of war towards Israel and this is well known to everyone except you it seems. Arafat's saga ended with him on a forced sunset cruise from Beirut.

Something over 1400 bodies were buried in the Moslem cemetery in Israel along the Lebanese border after the Lebanese war. These bodies were/are held by Israel to swap for the bodies of Israeli soldiers. If the number is correct, Hezbollah's front line troops were severely depleted by the war. Given the impromptu and disorganized preparations by the IDF, the war may have been at the prompting of the US, for whatever reason, more than Israel's desire to retrieve captured solders who were already dead.

all the so called sources saying otherwise obviously do not read the Israeli media press well or know Israel well enough. Comments are reflective in natural - what one would do if Israel is attacked by Hezbo as in the past has been the case. What one wants is a peaceful border and a good neighbour.......and no hostile neighbors. If only Lebanon wanted that as well, we all know that Hezbo does not- it rants war and death to Israel all the time. It's great obsession.

Why you're not working for the Israeli Government escapes me. They need you to tell them what they're going to do. You do realise that since you've told us all what's going to happen those Pesky Israelis will probably do the opposite just to spite YOU.

And then they claim that they are the `defenders of Hezbanon`. Yeah, its like someone who attacks another person and then claims self-defence when the other person hits back in self-defense.

Nasrallah apologies after the war and said if he knew in advance what the Israeli response would have been he wouldn't have started the whole thing. Is that victory? I'm curious what an internal Lebanese investigation regarding Hezbollah' conduct of the war would have revealed, and who would have been forced to resign. Of course, Lebannon, being a bananna republic, doesn't bother themselves with such modern concepts.

Let`s not forget that for TEN years the Lebanese engaged in one of the bloodiest, most vicious civil wars in Modern Middle East history. No living creature was safe, no building off limits. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed. Of course these are the same people who are outraged when Israel destroys some infrastructure during a war the Lebanese started.

Lincoln, threat of peace ?? What papers do you read ?? Now, you're just making things up.

You appointed you the head of the "Responsibility Police" ?? Israel is responsible for nothing and nobody in Lebanon. Since when do you determine what Israel is responsible for. I bet you have never set foot in Israel. Is Israel responsible for any ills in Australia, too ??

Miami Man, you are right on target. It is very telling that some posts defend the Hazbollah savages, thinking they somehow enhance and defend Lebanon. Do they also think the Taliban and Al-Quida are also "defenders" ?? Israel needs apologize to nobody. All the insanity of defending Hez is despicable. By the way, if Hez won the last war/Israel lost the war, I would like to see what Beirut looks like when Israel wins. I recall devestation in 2006. The Israeli victory would bring massive crying from the Dursons of the world.

No one remembers that the Palestinians themselves were under seige at the start of the Lebanon war. Quite a noble thing to do to put your own people at risk to avoid more casualties on your friends. That's what "Honour" is. Much the opposite to what Israel's army has.

the trouble started when the u.s. did not eliminate the heads of al qaeda in the nintees. the trouble continued when those same people were given the chance to escape at the very beginning of the afghan war. i do agree that there was mission creep. i am not a pacifist. however, i often question strategy.

Stop kidding yourselves, all of you. There is no other way to solve the issues there except by force. No negotiations. No Promises. No Pressures. First you fight. Then you negotiate a stop to the suffering. This time though, both Hizballa and Israel are prepared to go further and achieve a bit more of a tangible victory. However, There will be a lot of death and destruction on both sides, more serious destruction in Israel this time. Obviously, Israel will prevail at a very punishing cost. Then Israel will withdraw after 1 year or 2, handing security over to the UN

Who did the abdicting last time in 2006? I think you have it backwards.

# 58 M.A. And what about the Jewish refugees who were kicked out from Arab countries ? They numbered more than 850,000 ? In some of the Arab countries of today,the Jews there were more than a thousand years before Islam. The difference is that the Jewish People/Israel looked after them,helped them to stand on their feet. Israel even took in the skelotons,that were wronged & shorn of all human dignity from Europe to her shores.We gave shelter to them.they bore children.The children made a name for themselves. But the Palestinians ? Zero ! Those bastards,incl. the Palis.themselves did nothing to better their lives,except pull their hair or someone elses & pray,Shout to Allah to help them.

You mean the one hiding in a rathole? WHen was the last time Israel started a war with Lebanon unprovoked?

WHo is proviking, and who is doing the inching? Not Israel.

No rearming - no overflights. Simple as that.

WHen has Israel ever attacked Lebanon other than in retaliation for ongoing terrorist activity or rocket attacks and abductions?

What were Israel's war aims at the beginning of Lebanon2? What war aims as defined by Olmert were reached? What is your definition of victory?

$800 million worth of military supplies?

All the signs are that Israel is preparing to attack Lebanon as part of a longer term objective to declaring war on Iran. An objective which was a central pledge by Netanyahu in the last election. It is no accident that the last United States troops left Iraq today. And with the clock ticking on the Goldstone Report what better than a war to take peoples minds of it.

NATO attacked Afghanistan invoking Article 9 that an attack on one was an attack on all. The mistake that we made was to mission creep to such an extent that we also chose to take on Taliban who reverted to the same strategy which they used when they defeated the Soviets. Obviously you would have liked no military response to the atrocity of 9/11 as it upsets your sensibilities. The fact is we are successfully putting the genie back in the bottle and defending NATO's citizenry from terrorist attack. You might think that is unfair, frankly we don't care.

Hezbollah would not exist today if Israel didn't invade Lebanon in 1982. It is due to israeli aggression that Hezbollah is what it is today. If Hezbollah didn't exist Israel would be free to carry out any policy that it deems neccessary with regard to Lebanon, which history has shown they are more than willing to do so. Therefore it would be extremly foolish for the Lebanese to disarm them and they know that. The simple solution for Israel is to respect the Lebanese, withdraw from their territory (Shebba Farm etc) and stop violating their airspace. In other words start acting like a normal civillised country.

Israeli overflights of Lebanon are a violation of 1701. It is double standards if the UN imposes 1701 on Hezbollah and not on Israel. It is those double standards that drives Islamic fundamentalism and gifts people like Osama Bin Laden with the tools to radicalise individuals to such an extent that they fly aircraft into buildings.

So you are saying that just becase the IDF is one of the best armies in the world Israeli should not fear war wwith Lebanon/Hizbollah? Have you considered that Israel is not interested in a war becasue simply because it doesn't want war? I can't understand why Leb/Hiz is trying to provole Israel into another war - we all know what the results will be, don't we? But then you guys will be the forst to cry "Israeli agression" - as always.

There are 12 registered refugee Palestinian camps in Lebanon with a population totaling 222 776. (UNRWA) http://www.un.org/unrwa/refugees/lebanon.html Israel surely has a responsibility to all Palestinian refugees! It's fairly obvious, Israel uses the threat of Hezbollah (and Hamas) as a diversion from such responsibility.

You are so fanatic that you talk about wars as if it is a soccer game. You try to be sensibly anti - Israel but you show your true colors when writing here. And did Hezbollah ever dare to send another missile after the 2006 war? What is your definition of defeat? Fanatics don`t accept defeat until they are all dead, and launching attacks from civilian areas are good tactics for them. USA is struggling with Taliban for years, a fanatic militia like Hezbollah, and you look at the outcome of a one month war as a defeat, you are funny.

the u.s. has been waging war all over the world for many decades. americans are afraid to fly because of a few thousand islamic terrorists bent on mayhem and destruction. america is in afghanistan, sending uav's to kill the numerous taliban over in pakistan. yet neither the military, nor the president, can even begin to define what victtory would mean or look like.

Israel has never attacked Lebanon preemptively

in Lebanon become the majority again instead of threatening to destroy the country. Lebanon's unity depends on it's Christian population therefore the Jewish world should be offering us their help instead of making threats to destroy us.

Maybe there is no date or right now no political will (no need to make Obama really angry), but their is of course a plan. Israeli generals are not incompetent.

for someone who isn't going to be fighting..ever...how is that tan coming armchair hero?

"...hope the Phallange Rouge and friends will do the dirty job for Israel..." You mean as in in Sabra and Shatillah ?? David

That no one told the Jews to go back to the Middle East. As I recall from my elementary school days, I was chased home by stone-throwing kids calling me a Christ-killer and telling me to go back to Palestine. Now they are adults and telling us to leave the Middle East. Make up your minds. guys.

CJK, The US hasn't attacked Canada in a long time. Nor have we invaded our southern neighbor in quite a while. The luxury is that we gave up our territorial claims to the entire hemisphere. We even bought parts of the country from others and paid our bills.

Israel made war on all of Lebanon in 2006? Look when a country is attacked (Israel), when its citizens who are not engaged in an offensive act against another country (Lebanon), it is entitled to defend itself. It doesn't have to, nor is it advisable to, fight on its side of the border. Israel knew full well the extent of the munition buildup by Hezbollah in Southern Israel and legitimately sought to eliminate these munitions. The overflights today are also part of self defence & completely justified. The reason Israel can't accept "yes" for an answer is because Israel & Jews throughout the world are targets for Hezbollah, according to Hezbollah, and Hezbollah continues to develop its offensive capability. Rockets are not about defence. One more thing, the 2006 war was very controlled because Israel did act on the premise that Lebanon was not fully responsible for Hezbollah's act of war. Next time, yes Israel will suffer casualities, but its response will be much more intense.

You may write sheer nonsense about the lives and deaths of others. Never mind if it is "supporting Israel" or "anti Israel". Simple expression of imbecility, banal imbecility of the most average useless and ignorant hooligans.

The Syrian and Iranian Embassies were not targetted iduring LebanonII and they wwon't be during Lebanon III Israel will not want missiles tipped with chemical and biological weapons raining down on Israel. It is called deterrent, Syria and Iran have it now just as Israel does. The Middle East is becoming a level playing field, even Saudi Arabia, not the most stabe country in the world has the ability with the S-400 to shoot down aircraft in Israeli airspace. The days when Israel were marching on Damascus are well and truly gone.

Israel has never acted out of pretext. It acts to protect its citizens. Perhaps you, along with much of the Arab world, consider that a pretext?

hit the nail on the head. When he said that the placing of the SA-2 air defence missile in Lebanon will be the redline that will push Israel to war with Lebanon. I think what we are seeing in Lebanon and Syria is a reaction to that statement, and the facts on the ground in Lebanon that the SA-2 air defence system has been deployed. Looks like it is going to be Lebanon III

"God only knows how badly the IDF would fare against a real army". 1948, 1967, 1973 and 2006. Notice how quiet the Northern Border is and how scared the big Sheikh is and never goes out in public. We have learnt from our mistakes. Have you.

With the pressure on iran it so plain to see hezbolla was start flexing its mussels again. we all know ww3 on the cards .iran and the nuclear program stuff well thats a stale mate .So whats left attack by israel then full on war enjoy what golden times we have left foiks.

Kaska my response to your post #43 is AAAAAAARGH. Your posts would be funny if they were not so sad. How can one person be so naive, so illinformed (I hesitate to use the word stupid) and live in a country like Switzerland.) Please post a link where you got your information about the so called IDF abduction from Gaza of some Hamas guy the day before Shalit was kidnapped. Of course it only took Hamas one day to build the tunnel into Israel to get Shalit. Please post a link about the daily abductions from Gaza. You dont want us to think that you are only spreading lies and propaganda now do you Kaska. I am so sorry for all the Lebanese civilians that died because of the Hez crossborder incursion so that Hez could give Israel a "bad image in the media" Kaska do your parents know about your sudden urge to post anti Isreal jihadist propaganda to an Israeli newspaper. So sad.

Hizbollah did make a border raid and captured two IDF men. That sort of small scale thing had been going on for years. Israel did their share of small scale attacks against south Lebanon as well. In this particular case, Israel responded by bombing the Beruit airport and some other tagets in Lebanon. It was only after this that Hizbollah launched rockets. After the war, some senior Israeli politicians criticized Olmert for escalating the raid into a war so quickly.

After reading your in depth analysis of the last Lebanese war I just shake my head in amazement. How can somebody be that ignorant and naive. Quote "It will do like last time: have a discrete raid into palestinian or lebanese territory, abduct a doctor or something, and then when palestinians or hezbollah start fighting back they will say "Hey they started" (exactly like 2006 Fact Kaska, Hez crossed an international border and kidnapped and killed several soldiers. Fact Kaska, Hez fired rockets into civilian areas to take attention off the border incursion. Fact Kaska, Hez continued to fire thousands of rockets at civilian targets. Fact Kaska, Hez admitted that if they had known the depth of the Israeli response they would not have come across the border. But then Kaska as you have shown you do not care much for facts as you already have an agenda. Switzerland must be glad to have you Kaska. You are a model citizen.

How can you say that Hez protects Lebanon and is a defensive force. You seem to forget that the reason for Israels "incursion" into Lebanon was becaause Hez crossed the international border killed and kidnapped several soldiers and fired rockets into civilian areas as a cover up. And according to you there was no reason for Israel to attack. Some protection Hez provides for the Lebanese people. I suggest that you look at how the poor people of Haiti are surviving the effects of the earth quake. The next time Hez attacks Israel thats how the citizens of Lebanon will be living after "Earthquake Israel" is finished.

First of all, it is important to note that Hamas' abduction of Gilad Shalit was preceded by an IDF abduction of some Hamas guy in Gaza the preceding day. This was not widely reported in the media (because it happens every day...), unlike Gilad Shalit's capture. The capture of Shalit was a response to the IDF's incursion the day before. Second, most analysts will disagree with you. Even though Nasrallah claims the contrary, it's currently accepted that Hezbollah had two goals when initiating a raid in Israel. 1) It did want to exchange prisonners for the soldiers 2) It also wanted to relieve pressure from Hamas by forcing Israel to fight on two fronts. Israels intervention wasn't a falure because Hezbollah survived. It was a failure because the IDF did not reach it's goals and Hezbollah did reach theirs. (they did get their prisonners after the war, they did relieve pressure from Hamas during that conflict, and they gave Israel a bad image in the media)

I have not read of the current IDF exercises in any of the English language Israeli press I regularly monitor. Yet a Cabinet member, Yosi Peled, declares a war with Lebanon inevitable at the same time IDF units are active on the border. I guess that no one in the major Israeli english language press considered the IDF exercises worthy of coverage. But it is a crucial piece of information if an 'accident' happens.

The current IDF exercises along the Lebanese border have raised tension in Lebanon and Hizbollah is on full alert. The exercises and incessant IAF overflights have been so threatening that Syria has had to mobilize reserves. Netanyahu says one thing, members of his cabinet another. Israel has been talking up a war for some time and appears to be trying to force an incident as a cause to attack Lebanon. "Actions speak louder than words." - Theodore Roosevelt

shalom/saalam is it that difficult not to see that only the leaders of the radical powers want total control and do not care about your or any one else's opinion. people in power want what they want. they are not wearing a uniform nor are they in or on the front lines . you die... they are safe and when they wish to leave their office collect a healthy pension. in the name of all that is holy.... wake up and smell the coffee... give peace a chance.

could be Syria, as the merry go round will stop at the Syrian station. The Testing of the " WHOSE NEXT ?" definitely falling on Syria, just wait for the usual lttle Provocations. Some ministers hints will soon be out, my friend.

an attack by HEZBALLAH is an attack by all Islamic countries. WHY NOT ? just as we couyld say an attack by Israel is an atack by the UIS, which after all proving all the armaments to attack Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and tha west bank.

Now that the threat of an outbreak of peace has passed, back to the right's answer to everything. War.

and creating a strategy of defence through depth. The big mistake Hezbollah did in Lebanon2 was concentrate all their forces south of the Litani essentially making themselves one big target. Spreading your forces a bit thinner and doing hit and run raids on Israeli supply lines as they enter the country is exactly the strategy that caused the mess in Iraq. Holding on to land is a policy that plays into the hands of the Israelis, adopting a strategy that maximises the number of Israeli casualties is what caused Israel to pull out of Lebanon the first time. Israelis will not stomach a high casualty rate that is the equation Hezbollah are using. And forget going nuclear, going nuclear in Syria and Lebanon will impact Israel just as badly. Where do you think the water comes from?

"It will do like last time: have a discrete raid into palestinian or lebanese territory, abduct a doctor or something, and then when palestinians or hezbollah start fighting back they will say "Hey they started" (exactly like 2006)." [Kaska of Geneva] What kind of post is this? The events of August 2006 are well understood, even publically regretted by the black turbaned chubby who no lives in a secret rat hole.

It was Israels invasion and long occupation of Lebanon which gave birth to Hizbollah. Driving the IDF out of Lebanon in 2000 gave Hizbollah international credibility as a fighting force. Defeating Israel in the 2006 war gave Hizbollah international respectability and gave them a spot in the Lebanese government. It seems that Israel is constantly playing the dupe for the rise of Hizbollah. Just one of gods little jokes.

Afraid or not afraid is not the question,it is in nobody's interest to start a conflict,the results would be devastating for both sides. Results:lebanons infrastructure would be destroyed. Israel would have many casualties. So who would gain out of this conflict,maybe Iran,certantly not Hezbollah. Mughniyeh:Who ever took this barberian out deserves a medal.

Israel is a war nation, ever since it's creation, nothing but war, war and more war. Israel claims that it's the Arabs who want to destroy Israel, but the fact is, Israel is going to destroy Israel. you can only win so many times before you start to lose.

"If Israel starts the war "preemptively/preventively", of course, and begin murdering innocent civilians again my prayers will be for Hezbollah." And if Hezbollah should start the War? Your prayers will be with the Zionist entity. Is that correct?

The 2006 event was triggered by a cross-border kidnapping by Hez. Was that in your mind a "defensive" act?

Nice try :)

Kouchner is a desperate guy.

If indeed Hizbollah is moving rockets and materiel towards the border, then why the heck isn't the UN and its glorious bureaucracy raising hell and high water about incitement to engage Israel? Why is it that when Israel defends itself, the scum at the UN joint the anti-Semite bandwagon to blame Israel. Hizbollah are terrorists and their regime of terror is a total violation of what the United Nations stands for. DO SOMETHING, MR. BAN KI MOON. STOP being the mouth piece for the enemies of democracy.

Israel is uncapable of defeating Hezbollah because it's half the population. I think their aim is to kick the lebanese where it hurts and hope the Phallange Rouge and friends will do the dirty job for Israel. Strategically thinking it's not bad. You will start another civil war in Lebanon and that will give 10 years of tranquility to Israel. Then it can start all over again. I think Israel will wait until next winter to initiate the hostilities. It will do like last time: have a discrete raid into palestinian or lebanese territory, abduct a doctor or something, and then when palestinians or hezbollah start fighting back they will say "Hey they started" (exactly like 2006).

Syria and other nations were just fine with Israel and the collection of Hezbolluh children from the streets was limited.Is this why the Hezbolluh are in rage. I thought they were taking over and controlling the civil war in Somalia along with the Hamas to form Peace.Didnt Hezbollah recently blow up a building in Tel Aviv in a raid.Oh I am sorry you accidently blew up one of your leaders with misinformtion gathered from Livni. Sorry about that we like to keep our civilians alive and educate them so the spys give wrong espinoge info.We like to learn how to read so we can understand the ruins in the area not burn he books and hurt our mothers and elders. Keep chanting in paganistic rituals.In the old days they use to put on war paint not just a scarf.They counted cue there was honor system. Have nice day. Rankoo-Karoon

Better be careful with those long-range unguided rockets!

While it remains unclear whether Iron Dome will function in real war against short range missiles, a shield against long range missiles is still quite some years away. The Israeli homefront is the only possible card they have since IDF can not be defeated military by it's hostile neighbours. BTW: The Iranians will never give control or decisive authority to Hezbolah regarding nukes or dirty missiles. Since Iran knows Israel knows that and will retaliate against Iran in case it looks like a proxy uses radio-active weapons against Israel, there is no real danger there.

If there is going to be a War, like the last time Hezbollah will start it. Nasrallah admitted his "mistake" for the last War. His "miscalculation" at the Israeli response to Hezbollah sending in a special opts unit to attack Israel. Nasrallah thought that while Israel was engaged in a War with Hamas in Gaza, that Israel would not want to fight on two fronts. So he sent his terrorists across internationally recognized borders and attacked Israel. The result was $1.2 bil in infrastructure damage and about 1200 dead half of them seasoned Hezbollah fighters. I'm sure both sides learned from this War and the next one will be bloodier. Nasrallah was left with claiming a false victory based on the fact his group was not destroyed. Weird way to think?

If Hezbollah dares to launch Syrian & Iranian made long-range conventional rockets towards Israeli cities, these two embassies serving as Trojan Horses of Terror in Lebanon will be laid to waste just like Hezbollah's proud, former Forbidden City, which even the Lebanese president couldn't enter but in which visiting Iranian dignitaries and Revolutionary Guard intelligence officers were very welcome. If the rockets carry non-conventional warheads however, then the proud, ancient City of Damascus will finally adorn herself with the humbling, unfulfilled biblical prophecy of also being laid to waste, and the Iranian motherland will suffer its first strikes since the '80-88 war with Iraq, but this time her master bedroom's GPS coordinates are known.

Maybe Iran never lost a war but they sure as hell were proud to be followers of Zoroaster when they were conquered by the followers of Mohamed the Arab. They say the followers of Zoroaster invented the notion of autonome conscious evil (the devil) and guess what he gave them for disposing his existence? Irony, irony...

You write: "israel lives in the middle east", implying that it is a dangerous place for the Jews. It is indeed. But they came here of their own free will, nobody forced this hot spot on them.

Judging from your previous posting, you have been praying for the destruction of the state of Israel for quite a while. Your prayers will not be answered, because you don't seem to be particularly pius, certainly not a saint. Israel will successfuly defend itself, regardless of your morbid wishes

you just dont learn and hezbollah will be the death of you

The Netanyahu government has been talking of the need for a war since it took power. And the various members of his government are trying to talk-up a war with their pet hates. Some want Lebanon War III, others Cast Lead II. And the guys who want to crush the West Bank are already taking actions to start trouble there. The question isn't whether to start a war, the question is with whom?

nassralla had promised that if israel sterts a war with lebanon,it will be the last war for israel,do not underestimates his words,it is going to be a bloody wars for israel and lebanon

They are "inching towards conflict"? Who is going to start this conflict? Is Netanyahu going to take "pre-emptive action" (start the war)? I wonder if it's just a co-incidence that they happen to be "inching towards a war" as soon as Lebanon's economy starts booming.

"Second Lebanese War" is an obscure PR gambit by Israeli politicos to hide the increasingly circular and ineffective tactics of their Lebanese incursions. The 1978 Operation Litani was the first Lebanese war, followed by the second, Ariel Sharon-led war of 1982, followed by multiple bombing and artillery campaigns thereafter, finally, post-evacuation followed by the air-heavy "Second War" which, predictably, ground forces being withheld and then introduced without any coherent tactics or strategy as window dressing, failed to prevent Hezbollah from reupping and rearming. Israel appears to believe it has the luxury to deploy non-decisive force into Lebanon as a kind of "grass mowing" operation to indefinitely attrit the armed threat of the Hezbollah-Lebanese alliance--but given its reliance on imprecise heavy ordinance this bodes poorly for outcomes in a baseline hostile international alliance. Without strategic re-occupation of its near north there is a point of diminishing returns.

If Israel starts the war "preemptively/preventively", of course, and begin murdering innocent civilians again my prayers will be for Hezbollah. If Beirut burns so should Tel Aviv and the "settlement/bargaining chips." I would bet on..... Salaam/Shalom

Iran has never lose a war,NEVER.

Israel has gotten used to the idea that it can strike at any of its enemies with impunity because they didn't have the means to retaliate. Now it has to face the possibility that if it pushes too hard it may have to take serious damage in return. While clearly this is upsetting to a bully, you can't expect the rest of the world to share your sentiment.

John, please define what Hezbollah's mission is. Is it merely to protect Lebanon against Israel? Why would Israel attack Lebanon absent incursions from Lebanon into Israel by Hezbollah or others? Do you honestly think that Israel intends or wants to take land from Lebanon? When giving your answer, please do not include Hezbollah's Shebaa Farms pretext.

"iran will lose this war, just as it had lost previous wars." Iran's only war in the last 150 years was with Saddam's Iraq, so what are you talking about?

With "friends " like Kourchner I would rather have enemies

Can you quote your sources?

to cover their kidnap murder of IDF soldiers. The Israeli Lebanon conflict only started when Lebanon became a base to attack Israel. Once Israel kicked out the invading Lebanese army in 1948 it became quiet,King Hussein threw out Arafat who moved with his terrorists to Lebanon after failing to topple King Hussein.

Hizbollah was created to run the IDF out of Lebanon. This was completed in 2000. In 2006, there was another war. Although Israelis don't like to admit they lost this war, they did lose it big time. Aside from the fact that Israel didn't accomplish a single one of their numerous stated goals for that war, in the aftermath, they fired Israels defense minister, and the chief of staff. Seven generals were also forced out and the Winograd committee was formed to find out what went wrong. To top it off, Hizbollah is stronger today than it was in 2006. Some Israelis have the capacity to believe anything they want to believe. They believe the IDF is a wonderful and effective fighting force. It is, if the target is only unarmed civilians. This is the IDF's bread and butter target. Against lightly armed militia, such as Hizbollah, it's a different story. God only knows how badly the IDF would fare against a real army.

I have a bad feeling about this next war. This could be the big one.

So let me understand this. Israel who has Nuclear weapons, Missiles that can reach likely anywhere, who has the logistics in 24 hours can send a team of medics all the way around the world to help Haiti, who is able to build its own tanks, and is the 3rd biggest seller of weapons in the world feels threatened by a group like Hizballah. Remind me again the last time Hizballah invaded Israel. Maybe if Israel would just learn to live with its neighbours instead of constantly trying to initimidate and himiliate them, then rockets or bombs would just rust away and the only war between these neighbours would be who can make better hummus.

How so Cipora? Israel has the 4th or 5th strongest military in the world. Why would they be afraid of a country with a weak military who has not attacked another country first in 200 years. A country that strictly adheres to the NNPT treaty and allows inspections of its nuclear program. A country that has suggested a nuclear free Middle East. Sure they support Hamas and Hezbollah who you see as terrorists. Iran sees them as freedom fighters. Your own Haganah and Irgun were deemed terrorists by the British. I'm sure Jewish folks saw them as freedom fighters. Seems to me Iran IS interrested in peace. Israel, on the other hand, must have constant conflict to appear as the victim. If they really wanted peace it would have already happened. The only peace they want is "piece" of land op0f course

There was no problem on the Israel Lebanon border till Lebanon became a base to attack Israel after King Hussein threw out Arafat! The war before that was the Lebanese army joining all the other Arab armies to "annihilate" Israel in 1948

during the last war where the Lebanese military did absolutely nothing to thwart the Israeli incursion the reponsibility falls on Hezbolah to protect Lebanon. It seems to me they are a purely defensive force. Legal or illegal they are the only protection the lebanese people have. There is no reason for Israel to attack Lebanon unless the Israelis create one. Whatever weapons Hezbollah gets will pale in comparisom to the military might of Israel.

Israel may have to announce that an attack by Hezb. shall be treated as an attack by Syria and Iran, subjecting those countries to massive retaliation. That may be the only way to deter Iran.

Israel's threats of a new lebanon invasion, coupled with secretary Clinton's remarks, have caused this defensive posturing.

Israel ought to aim its own rockets at Hezbollah and be ready to fire at a moment's notice. If Hez ignites the torch, Israel ought to finish them off once and for all.

it is easy for you to talk and give advice. you can pull out your forces from much of the middle east and still have a country. israel is in no such position. israel lives in the middle east. iran is not interested in peace. iran might not be a huge threat to the u.s., at least not for now, but it is such a threat to israel.

It would appear that both sides have some incentive to avoid war. It is not as if Israel didn't make war on all of Lebanon in 2006. And Israel wanted those rockets away from the border. Why can't the Israeli public and military accept "yes" for an answer?

iran's revolutionary guard commanders, in charge of hezbollah terror group's military strategy, are planning for a full scale assault on israel. deploying iran's long range missiles further away from the lebanon-israel border, iran plans to attack israel's northern civilian population with shorter range missiles, while attempting to prevent israel from destroying iran's long range missiles stored in the north of lebanon. such strategy will cause civilian casualties on both sides. however, iran will lose this war, just as it had lost previous wars.

this makes it much more personal. The people are not all Hezbollah and are still angry at Hezbo for turning their weapons on them, now bringing their obsession to all Lebanese doors will start a rage that will not stop.

...to attack all of lebanon.

... to serve as cannon fodder - while bombing Tel Aviv. Poor Lebanese!