It is worth emphasizing that the "Jewish state" was founded on the basis of an ancient Biblical map, and to this date the "Jewish state" still refuses to declare its borders in favor of future expansion. There is nothing like this Biblical map to send shivers among Arabs and Muslims, since its borders spans the occupied West Bank (including occupied East Jerusalem), occupied Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon, the western parts of Jordan, and southern Syria including the occupied Golan Heights.

As Israel pounds Gaza and Lebanon simultaneously, there are no signs of diplomacy to halt the conflict. Bush says, “the best way to stop the violence is to understand why the violence occurred in the first place.”[1] Canadian prime minister says, “I think Israel's response under the circumstances has been measured.”[2] Above all, the U.S. vetoed Security Council’s call for a ceasefire.[3] Britain also opposed calling for ceasefire[4] and instead Defense Secretary Des Browne ordered for HMS Illustrious and HMS Bulwark to “make ready” for operations off Lebanon.[5] And Blair accused Syria and Iran.[6]

In blunt language, President Bush yesterday endorsed Israel's campaign to cripple or eliminate Hezbollah, charged that Syria is trying to reassert control of Lebanon, and called for the isolation of Iran.

 Bush, in remarks at the White House after he briefed members of Congress about the recent Group of Eight summit of industrialized nations, said the "root cause" of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon "is terrorism and terrorist attacks on a democratic country."

 Seeing a major opportunity to regain influence lost as a result of setbacks in Iraq, prominent neoconservatives are calling for unconditional U.S. support for Israel's military offensives in Gaza and Lebanon and "regime change" in Syria and Iran, as well as possible U.S. attacks on Tehran's nuclear facilities in retaliation for its support of Hezbollah.

 Bush 'gave green light' for limited attack, say Israeli and UK sources

 US is giving Israel a window of a week to inflict maximum damage on Hizbullah before weighing in behind international calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to British, European and Israeli sources.

 The Bush administration, backed by Britain, has blocked efforts for an immediate halt to the fighting initiated at the UN security council, the G8 summit in St Petersburg and the European foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. 

For many Americans, the recent assault on Gaza and Lebanon makes perfect sense. Two attacks on Israeli soldiers by groups in Gaza and Lebanon, and the subsequent capture of three Israeli prisoners, were “unspeakable provocations,” but a sordid feeling overcomes all those who have been closely watching the events unfold in the Occupied Territories and Lebanon. The Israeli government, reinforced by American steadfastness and the international community’s capitulation, set the rules for the one-sided catastrophe. Israel can freely pound Gaza, batter south Lebanon, and hammer Beirut, but if Hezbollah, Hamas, Fatah or any other Palestinian or Lebanese civilian lifts a finger to defend themselves or their country against Israeli military aggression, it is tantamount to crimes against humanity.

 The west appears to insist that only one side in the conflict is able to intervene militarily across borders. That will never be accepted

 Much has been made in recent days - at the G8 summit and elsewhere - of Israel's right to retaliate against the capture of its soldiers, or attacks on its troops on its own sovereign territory. Some, such as those in the US administration, seem to believe that Israel has an unqualified licence to hit back at its enemies no matter what the cost. And even those willing to recognise that there may be a problem tend to couch it in terms of Israel's "disproportionate use of force" rather than its basic right to take military action.

The most shocking thing about Israel’s assault on Lebanon is the dispassionate precision with which the bombardment has been carried out. From bridge to granary, from granary to power plant, from power plant to factory, from factory to mosque, from mosque to hospital, from hospital to apartment building; each decimated with the calm disdain of a surgeon removing a cancerous tumor. We get no sense of rage in Israel’s behavior, just the calculated savagery of men who see their duty as systematically decapitating an entire civilization and leaving it in ruins.

The Political-Security Cabinet met this morning (Wednesday), 19.7.06 and
decided as follows:

"The Cabinet expresses its regret over the deaths of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers as a result of both the firing of rockets at Israel and Hizbullah activity, and sends its condolences to the families and its best wishes to those who have been wounded.

9 Killed, including 2 children, and 81 Injured; Government Compound in Nablus Besieged; IOF Take Over many Governmental Buildings in Nablus; Tens are Stripped and Detained

From the predawn hours till the publication of this press release, IOF have killed 9 Palestinians and injured 81 others, including 14 children and a paramedic. Six of the dead, including 2 children, fell in El-Maghazi refugee camp; and the others fell in Nablus. IOF had attacked Nablus and besieged governmental buildings claiming that there are wanted people inside them. IOF continue to detain the bodies of the fallen in Nablus after abducting them from an ambulance. PCHR is concerned over the continued Israeli aggression in El-Maghazi and Nablus, which could lead to additional casualties among Palestinians and to additional destruction of their property.