U.N. Official Terms Hizbullah ´Cowardly´

European countries and foreign media, from the outset of Israel's retaliation to the Hizbullah terrorist war against Israel, have charged that the Jewish state has caused a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

However, Jan Egeland, head of the United Nationals humanitarian efforts, accused Hizbullah of "cowardly blending" among women and children." He said he heard that the terrorists were pleased that civilians suffered more than their own terrorists. "I don't think anyone should be proud of having many more children and women dead than armed men," he added.

Egeland did not spare criticism of Israel, which he said has killed innocent civilians in its attacks on Hizbullah strongholds. Visiting American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni Monday night that it is important to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. Israel already has opened up a corridor to help medical supplies and food enter the country."

Secretary Rice is scheduled to speak with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday.

The charges by the United Nations official that Hizbullah is violating the civil rights of Lebanese are an important turn in the war of public opinion and come only one day after a British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) reporter told listeners that he saw Hizbullah terrorists exploiting civilians.

Israel has launched an unprecedented campaign to explain to foreign media and to Jews in the Diaspora that Hizbullah executed acts of war against Israeli citizens that require a sovereign nation to defend itself.

Prime Minister Olmert told a visiting Jewish delegation Monday, "I don't recall such an event in which it was absolutely clear to [so many people] who were united in supporting the State of Israel and accepting the Israeli reaction as inevitable and totally natural...The attacks both in the south and the north were an outright violation of the basic fundamental right of the State of Israel...and it was an act of war.

"A nation that respects itself cannot afford to accept these...[terrorist] threats.... We will fight Hizbullah and we will not stop unless we will able to guarantee the security and safety of the State of Israel even if I have to fight a year or two years.

"We are going to kill them one by one.

07.25.2006

Arutz Sheva News Service - Jerusalem