Bolton defends Israel's actions in Lebanon - Jul 23, 2006

The US ambassador to the United Nations has defended the actions of Israel against Hezbollah. In a strong statement to the United Nations, Mr. Bolton has responded to the growing criticism that the actions of Israel are disproportionate with regards to the actions taken by both the Hezbollah and Hamas. He has reminded Israel's critics that the Hezbollah did not have the right to kidnap the Israeli soldiers. He also reminded the critics that the Hezbollah have been bombing Israel, especially the city of Haifa. The critics of Israel seem to think that Israel should allow her enemies to plunder and bomb her cities, and otherwise terrorize her citizens at will, and that she has no right to retaliate and attempt to secure Israel so that the Israeli citizens can live in peace. Mr. Bolton stated the following:

"What Hezbollah has done is kidnap Israeli soldiers and rain rockets and mortar shells on innocent Israeli civilians. What Israel has done in response is act in self-defense. And I don't quite know what the argument about proportionate force means here. Is Israel entitled only to kidnap two Hezbollah operatives and fire a couple of rockets aimlessly into Lebanon?

"The situation is that Israel has lived under the terrorist threat of Hezbollah for years, and these most recent attacks have given it the legitimate right, the same right America would have if we were attacked, to deal with the problem. And that's what they're doing."

The fighting began July 12, when Hezbollah fighters killed three Israeli soldiers and abducted two others in northern Israel. (Full story)