New York Times highlights columnists’ calumny regarding Lebanon

I feel compelled to respond to two lengthy, deeply distorted Opinion pieces that appeared in the New York Times on consecutive days this week. Each portrays Israel as the immoral, expansionist aggressor in the current Mideast conflict.

Such one-sided views should not go unanswered.

Israel, like numerous countries, has many faults in living up to its noble ideals. But it has never coveted the land of Lebanon or been at war with its citizens. Israel’s desire is to protect its own people, have cordial relations with bordering states if possible, and at least be left alone by its neighbors. But that is a luxury it has never enjoyed since the day it declared statehood in 1948. The military conflicts between Israel and Lebanon over the years were not with the Lebanese people but with the two terror groups – the PLO and Hezbollah – that have launched attacks on Israel from their perches in Lebanon.

New York Times columnist Lydia Polgreen has a different perspective. On Sunday (June 7), her prominently placed essay, entitled “Lebanon Is Fed Up, and Ready to Remake Itself,” describes her visit to the beleaguered country, talking to frustrated civilians who are the pawns suffering from the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

I have empathy for the people of Lebanon, as do most Israelis, but in Polgreen’s essay, Israel is the primary cause of the troubles. Hezbollah, described as “the Iran-backed Shiite militia group … in conflict with Israel, off and on for decades,” is seen as the protector of Lebanese civilians.

Those “off and on” battles have taken place whenever Hezbollah decided to attack Israel. That’s because its sole purpose........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)