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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| "There Can No Longer Be a Hezbollah" |
| 2006-07-26 |
| In a SPIEGEL interview, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, 48, discusses Israel's bombing attacks on Lebanon, a weak Lebanese government that has been unable to contain Hezbollah and the roles played by Syria and Iran in the current conflict. SPIEGEL: Madam Minister, after Hezbollah attacked a patrol and kidnapped two soldiers, your government launched a military offensive that you defend as your right to self defense. But what does the bombing of Beirut have to do with a right to self defense? Livni: The legitimacy of our answer relies on the size of the threat and not a specific attack. Hezbollah as a real threat to us is a fact that is acknowledged by the entire world. Sheik Nasrallah wants to assume the position of a provocateur to prevent peace in the area of Israel and Lebanon. Israel will fight the Hezbollah wherever they are. Their command center is in southern Beirut. This is why we bombed this area. SPIEGEL: Why did the Israeli air force bomb the Beirut airport? Livni: We wanted to prevent two things: the transportation of the two soldiers to an area outside Lebanon and the import of weapons. SPIEGEL: The parents of the kidnapped soldiers are pushing for the release of Arab prisoners from Israeli jails to exchange for their sons. Livni: I am in contact with the parents of the kidnapped soldiers. Of course we have a responsibility to them. But we also have to protect the interests of the Israeli government. We are demanding the unconditional release of the soldiers and we expect the global community to support us in that. SPIEGEL: How do you react to the massive international criticism of the many innocent victims? Livni: I very much regret the civilian victims. But there is a very significant difference between us and our enemies: we are defending ourselves against anyone who attacks us and use every means possible to prevent hitting civilians. The Hezbollah, however, intentionally aims its weapons at the houses of uninvolved citizens, at women and children. Israel only attacks areas where, according to our knowledge, there are terrorists. The problem is that the Hezbollah hides some of its weapons in apartment houses. SPIEGEL: Does that justify the growing number of civilians that have been killed? Livni: As the government of the state of Israel we are faced with a dilemma: do we expose our citizens to this threat or do we attack? Incidentally, we are doing something that no other country would do -- we warn the people using Lebanese television, radio and flyers that we spread over the affected areas. We ask the people to leave their homes and get themselves to safety. SPIEGEL: What is the goal of the military action? Livni: It's not only about the goal of the military action but about the demands of the international community that we explicitly share. They are: there must be a government and an army in Lebanon. There can no longer be militias and terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah. Hezbollah must be completely disarmed. They should no longer have the ability to be armed by Syria and Iran. In southern Lebanon there can be no more Hezbollah bases. The Lebanese army must be stationed there in its place. The global community a while ago demanded that the Lebanese government fulfill its responsibilities. It hasn't yet done so. SPIEGEL: The complicated political situation in Lebanon makes the Lebanese government extremely weak. How can they be held fully responsible for Hezbollah's violent acts under these conditions? Livni: Whether weak or strong, a government carries the responsibility for whatever happens within its country. We are currently considering the question of whether we must strengthen the Lebanese government from the outside so that it would be able to fulfill its responsibilities. SPIEGEL: Don't Syria and Iran carry considerably greater responsibility for the violent acts committed by the Hezbollah? Livni: Hezbollah is the long arm of Iran. They share the same horrible ideology. It's an ideology of hate that is fed by the wish to destroy Israel. Syria supports Hezbollah by, on the one hand, providing weapons and, on the other, acting as a conduit for weapons deliveries from other countries. SPIEGEL: Are you afraid that Syria and Iran could get involved in the war? Livni: I hope that they don't give into this temptation. They would be making a serious mistake. SPIEGEL: Would the deployment of international peacekeepers be a way to end this conflict? Livni: We are reviewing this possibility. But the most dangerous move in the current situation would be a cease-fire without an agreement for the day after. The international community should not demand a cease-fire that creates a vacuum. It would be a victory for the Hezbollah. SPIEGEL: Has the international community done too little to disarm Hezbollah? Livni: The international community has already achieved one major success -- the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon. It was one of the few times where the world presented a united and unwavering front and sparked a positive process. Now we need to finish the work. SPIEGEL: Was the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the security zone in southern Lebanon in 2000 a mistake? Livni: I don't currently busy myself with 'if only' questions. Israel made a decision at the time that, as we see today, wasn't without risk. The same could be said about the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Israel is also attacked with rockets from there and a soldier was also kidnapped there. This is why the international community should give Israel even greater support now. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Any end of this war short of removing Islam from the face of the earth is a failure. Throughout history these bastards have gotten off the ground after total defeat and regrouped to fight and murder another day. Not until the human race can rid itself of this brain rot, Islam, can we proudly declare victory. It makes no sense to pass a still warm carcass to our children. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-07-26 15:48 |
| #4 "There Can No Longer Be fundamentalist Islam". |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2006-07-26 12:48 |
| #3 "There Can No Longer Be a |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-07-26 09:28 |
| #2 GP: The other day Mark Steyn referred to the conflict as the "first Shiite and Israel war." I agree. |
| Posted by: Griper Whegum8464 2006-07-26 04:10 |
| #1 Not a bad interview. Livni was on-topic and on-target all the way. I particularly liked this bit: SPIEGEL: Are you afraid that Syria and Iran could get involved in the war? Livni: I hope that they don't give into this temptation. They would be making a serious mistake. A serious mistake, indeed, but I pray it will happen - and very very soon. Pushing Hezb off the border and killing some or many of them won't end anything. Full regime change in Iran is the only thing that will end this particular nightmare. |
| Posted by: Glang Jolunter3113 2006-07-26 03:08 |