Two issues you don`t hear in the news

By: Alison Weir July 19, 2006

There are several significant factors concerning the situation in Lebanon that are not being discussed in the US media. Following are just a few examples ..

1. Israel is violating US laws: In Israel's attack on Lebanon, which has so far killed 226 Lebanese, mostly civilians (24 Israelis have died), Israeli forces are using US weaponry. This is a clear violation of two US laws that regulate American aid abroad:

The U.S. Arms Export Control Act restricts the use of U.S. weapons to legitimate self-defense and internal policing; U.S. weapons cannot be used to attack civilians in offensive operations.

The U.S. Foreign Assistance Act prohibits U.S. aid of any kind to a country with a pattern of gross human rights violations.

In the first few days of the offensive against Lebanon, tens of millions of dollars worth of U.S. munitions have been used by Israel against a country friendly to the United States and a government fully supported by America - a nation considered by many to be the most democratic country in the region.

In addition to killing and maiming civilians -- many of them children -- Israel is destroying the country's civilian infrastructure: the airport, streets, bridges, electric plants, etc.

(CNN is no longer giving a figure on the number of Lebanese injured, but this quite possibly approaches 500 to 1,000, in addition to the 226 killed so far.)

2. Israel is violating international law. The Sinora government (and previous Lebanese governments) have long complained of three specific Israeli violations of international law. These are central to the Lebanon-Israel situation:

Israel has failed to keep her promise to make available maps of the 140,000 land mines she left behind in Lebanon. This continues to endanger Lebanese children and families.

Three small sectors of land overlooking the Litani River have been retained and occupied by Israel. This acquisition of another nation's land is illegal and a major cause of complaint by the Lebanese government.

Three Lebanese prisoners taken by Israel were moved to Israel many years ago. This is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention prohibition against an occupying power transporting prisoners into its own territory.

A previous prisoner held by Israel testified to grotesque torture by Israel. This came out in Israeli and world media, but was ignored by US media. There is reason to suspect that Lebanese prisoners still being held by Israel - like the over 9,000 Palestinian men, women, and children - are also being physically abused.

Also, in time lines on Lebanon, it is important that the media include the Israeli-sponsored massacres in Sabra and Shatilla, which took place in 1982.