Israel Had No Choice but to Go to War with Hezbollah

The Israeli government's decision to attack Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon was the correct move. In fact, Israel had little choice in the matter. The government in Jerusalem was blatantly attacked within Israeli territory by the a militant group bent on Israel's destruction. In order to protect its citizens, Israel had to go to war.

The bottom line is that Islamic militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas do not recognize Israel's right to exist. The question is not one of giving back territory captured in Israel's overwhelming victory in the Six Day War in 1967. To Hezbollah and Hamas, Tel Aviv is "occupied territory" just as much as the Nablus or Sheba Farms.

Need proof? Look at Israel's withdrawal from it's the security zone in southern Lebanon six years ago. Hezbollah has claimed that Sheba Farms is still "occupied" in order to justify its continued attacks on Israel. The United Nations says the disputed territory is not part of Lebanon but Hezbollah attacks against Israel continued.

Fighting had been limited to rockets fired at Israelis in Sheba Farms and a tacit, unspoken agreement came into being to maintain the status quo. However, the recent abduction of Israeli soldiers that instigated the recent conflict was done within Israel's pre-1967 borders. It is clear that Hezbollah, like its patron, Iran, wants Israel wiped off the map.

Hamas in the Gaza Strip showed similar intent. Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza last summer under the guidance of Ariel Sharon. Jewish communities were uprooted and handed over to the Palestinians. Instead of emphasizing the building of a new state, the Palestinians used the Gaza Strip to launch rockets into southern Israeli towns and cities. The attacks were directed at civilians within Israel's pre-1967 borders. They were continuous almost from the day the pullback was completed.