tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251782.post114237707128613268..comments2023-07-07T03:14:33.951-05:00Comments on Zionism & Aliya: The Straw ManCaitlyn Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08066943172339740116noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251782.post-1142382194150179292006-03-14T18:23:00.000-06:002006-03-14T18:23:00.000-06:00Yael, I disagree with you about Lebanon being a co...Yael, I disagree with you about Lebanon being a conflict initiated by Israel. It followed a long series of attacks by the PLO from southern Lebanon on towns in northern Israel. A kindergarten was destroyed at one point as I remember, with innocent children killed. Israel reacted in defense of towns in Israel proper.<BR/><BR/>Whether then Defense Minister Sharon should have ever crossed the Awali River against the wishes of Prime Minister Begin is certainly a matter open to discussion. Whether chasing Yasser Arafat and the PLO all the way to Beirut was wise is certainly open for debate. Whether the 18 years of occupation did good or harm is something I am still not sure about. To claim, however, that Israel's response was not provoked by Palestinian attacks is, IMHO, quite incorrect.<BR/><BR/>So... I stand by my statement of only defensive wars. <BR/><BR/>BTW, talk to some expatriate Lebanese Christians now living in the States about how they feel about the events of 1982-83 and the subsequent occupation. They hate that Palestinians and Syrians with a passion and are more supportive of Israel than most Jews I know... and they are Arabs.Caitlyn Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08066943172339740116noreply@blogger.com