International reactions to the 2006 Lebanon War
The Arab League, in the words of Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, has called Hezbollah's attacks on Israel "unexpected, inappropriate, and irresponsible acts.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, representing the EU presidency, said Siniora's plan was a "good basis to reach an agreement," and that he was "struck by the unity of the Lebanese government.
[9]UN Secretary General Kofi Annan demanded that Hezbollah immediately free the two captured Israeli soldiers,[7] and sent a three-man party to the Middle East to urge countries to show restraint.
"[13] According to Annan, the "three vital reasons" for "immediate cessation of hostilities" were:[14] On 26 July, the United States blocked the UN Security Council from issuing a statement that would have condemned Israel's bombing of a UN post on the Lebanon border that killed four military observers overnight.
[17]President Mubarak of Egypt made a number of comments on the violence, condemning the Israeli military attack in Lebanon, while also indirectly criticizing Hezbollah for harming Arab interests.
"[28] On 13 July, Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi condemned Israel's response: "The Zionist regime is desperate because of the resistance put up by regional Muslim nations and is now resorting to blind tactics against the innocent people of Lebanon with full US backing.
"[31] On 27 July, Ahmadinejad stated that: Not only has the occupying regime [Israel] attacked and destroyed Lebanon under the support of certain countries, it has victimized several hundred women and children while thousands of people have been displaced escaping Israeli bombardment.
"[34] On 14 July, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon and called on both the UN Security Council and the international community to act, warning against the outcome for the region.
[62] Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has expressed outrage over "Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Palestine," releasing the following statement: This attack is a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and contravenes the norms and principles of the UN charter.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he did not favour sending Canadian troops to southern Lebanon as part of a multinational peacekeeping force, adding that countries in the area should be responsible for resolving the conflict.
On 17 July 2006, the Prime Minister appeared to moderate these remarks, noting that the situation had deteriorated since his initial comments, but that it was difficult for Israel to fight "non-governmental forces" when they are embedded in the civilian population.
"[95] On 15 July, Bush called upon Syria to exert its influence over Hezbollah militants to get them to "lay down their arms," adding that only Israel should try to limit civilian casualties as it steps up attacks on its neighbor.
"[99] It was reported on 24 July that the United States was in the process of providing Israel with "bunker buster" bombs, which would allegedly be used to target the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrilla group and destroy its trenches.
[101] According to Reuters and the New York Times, the Bush administration authorized the expedited processing and shipment of precision-guided bombs (already allotted for sale in 2005) to Israel to support the Israeli campaign, but did not announce the increased haste publicly.
[114] Foreign minister Aziz Pahad said that the South African Government was "greatly concerned" about the increasing violence between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, fearing that it would lead to a "catastrophe and a possible regional war" in the Middle East.
"[116] A briefing presented facts "strongly suggesting" that Israel's "extensive destruction" and "widespread attacks against public civilian infrastructure" was "deliberate and an integral part of the military strategy, rather than collateral damage".
[117] A press release by Human Rights Watch issued on 3 August accuses Israeli forces of "hav[ing] systematically failed to distinguish between combatants and civilians in their military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon".
ICRC director of operations Pierre Kraehenbuehl stated at a press conference in Geneva that "The high number of civilian casualties and the extent of damage to essential public infrastructure raise serious questions regarding respect for the principle of proportionality in the conduct of hostilities."
After marching through the Central Business District (CBD), the rally moved to the Sheraton hotel where John Howard was giving a keynote address to the Western Australia Liberals state conference.
[149] On 28 July thousands of demonstrators gathered in several cities with banners portraying Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and American President George W. Bush as "the real terrorists".
[169] In Dunedin an emergency demonstration against the war attracted 250-300 people who marched on the Octagon via Labour MP Pete Hodgson's office and called on the government not to resume any military joint-training exercises with the USA (something Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was trying desperately to secure on his latest trip to Washington DC).
Abdullah bin Jabreen, one of Saudi Arabia's leading Wahhabi sheiks, issued a strongly worded fatwa declaring it unlawful to support, join or pray for Shiite Hezbollah.
[174] 30 July protestors at Scotland's Prestwick Airport managed to have a chartered plane laden with bombs en route from Texas to Tel Aviv diverted to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England due to their protests.
[184] On 12 August 2006, thousands (according to the New York Times) (organizers say 30,000), of mostly Muslims "rallied near the White House on Saturday to protest what they described as Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the United States' unwavering support for Israel."
Speakers included former Attorney General (and legal defender of Saddam Hussein) Ramsey Clark, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, Partnership for Civil Justice, A.N.S.W.E.R.
BIDEN: Absolutely, positively, unequivocally...[195] Nicole Kidman along with 84 other Hollywood people signed their names on what read: Other film gurus that signed included actors: Michael Douglas, Dennis Hopper, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Danny DeVito, Don Johnson, James Woods, Kelly Preston, Patricia Heaton and William Hurt; and directors: Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Michael Mann, Dick Donner and Sam Raimi; as well as star tennis player Serena Williams and media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.
When asked if there was any "hard evidence" to support his statements, Mearsheimer cited the "public record" and "Israeli civilian strategists", then repeated the allegation that Israel was seeking "a cover for launching this offensive.
A 27 July memo issued by AIPAC titled "Beirut Largely Unscathed as Israel Targets Hezbollah Strongholds," advanced the idea that through "surgical strike" bombing the damage reported in other media was exaggerated.
AIPACs middle east analyst, Josh Block was quoted in the press release as saying:"[It's] similar to a university setting, terrorists from every corner of the international community have come together in the Bekaa Valley training camps to learn how to conduct lethal operations and utilize various types of weapons."
"[205]There were also calls of support from a second Zionist focused lobby grouping headed by John Hagee the founder and senior pastor of the 18,000-member evangelical Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas.
