Israel’s existence is hardly at stake. Lebanon’s is another question. Israel’s response to the taking of TWO soldiers is disproportionate to say the least. Our complicity is shameful. The bombing of civilians is terrorism.

Blair has as much grasp on the Lebanon situation as he does on Iraq or sleaze at home. He does the bidding of his Washington mentors and has earned the contempt of not just his party but most of the country over his support for Israeli atrocities in Lebanon. Yo, Blair indeed. What a grotesquerie it has become for New Labour.

Bliar brings shame on the British People. As for Israel’s right to exist, have you ever asked an Orthodox Jew?

http://www.nkusa.org/activities/Statements/2006July18.cfm

Orthodox Jews Demand End to Zionist Atrocities in the Middle East

July 18 – New York

The brutal and indiscriminate attack upon the people and infrastructure of Lebanon by the Zionist State “Israel” is a crime against all basic standards of decency and humanity.

The excuse given for this murderous invasion was the attack by Hezbollah on the IDF. What this might have to do with the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese innocent men, women and children, who are subjected to an ongoing living hell, is beyond comprehension.

Indeed, this current aggression is only the second chapter of the recent viciousness; the first being the furious reinvasion of Gaza and the onslaught on its civilians and the ruination of its basic human services.

Of course, voices may be heard that the IDF are simply responding. This, of course, ignores the question of the evil, implicit in punishing blameless people for the deeds of others. And it totally ignores the root of the problem, the dispossession and subjugation of the Palestinian people which began in 1948, was expanded in 1967 and continues unabated to this day. The crux of the matter is that beyond the immorality of the Zionist treatment of the Palestinians is the ultimate fact—the ideology of Zionism and ensuing establishment of the Zionist state conflicts with the basic teachings of Judaism.

Zionism is the transformation from Judaism, a G-dliness and spirituality, into a G-dlessness, materialism with nationalistic aspirations. Theodor Herzl and his cohorts, the fathers of this relatively new ideology of Zionism (approximately 100 years), have taken the Almighty out of the equation.

The ultimate establishment of the Zionist State, the fulfilment of the Zionist ideology, takes this blasphemy a step further. The Jewish people were sent into exile by Divine decree. They where then expressly commanded by the Almighty, not to attempt to leave their exilic existence through any human intervention. They were expressly forbidden to create their own state, such as the Zionist state of “Israel”. (Talmud, Tractate Kesuboth, p.111).

The Jewish people are forbidden to oppress another people. The creation of the State of “Israel” came about through, the theft from, subjugation and oppression of, the Palestinian people.

Torah Jewry, therefore, condemns the horrifying suffering inflicted upon both the Palestinian and Lebanese people. Because of all of the above, all attempts to achieve peace and stability for “Israel” are destined to fail. The Creator cannot be defied with impunity.

The Rabbis stated, that the State of “Israel” will result in unending pain, suffering and bloodshed. May the Almighty protect His creations.

The State of “Israel” does not speak in the name of Jews, they have stolen the name “Israel” from the Jewish people. Jews are commanded to be loyal citizens in every country in which they reside.

Zionism and the State of “Israel”, is the main cause of the exacerbation of anti Semitism universally.

The government of the illegitimate State of “Israel”, continually attempts to uproot the Torah and its statutes. They persistently oppress the Torah true Jews who reside in its borders.

We pray that all misery in the Holy Land and Lebanon, shall come to an end and that Zionism, the root of the suffering, continue to fade from Jewish consciousness, to be replaced by the faith of Torah. We shall all witness soon the peaceful dismantlement of the Zionist State “Israel”. May we merit seeing the day when all humanity will serve the Almighty in harmony and peace. Amen

I fail to see how using white phosphorous and cluster bombs on Lebanese civilians - both against international rules of war but what the heck, eh? - and bunker-buster bombs which target Lebanese civilians in bomb shelters, can be considered a proportional response.

Unless the proportions are 100:1.

Well said Mr Blair.
Thank you for standing up for Israel and for it’s right to fight for it’s own protection.
Those who call for Israel to stop, do not understand what Hizbollah are fighting for or do not accept Israel’s right to exist.