Hezbollah and Israeli Attacks

In your April 19 editorial (“Deep- ening Tragedy in Lebanon”), you failed to mention that the only way to stop violence on the Lebanon-Israel border once and for all would be for a full-scale effort by the United States and the international community to restore Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and freedom. For more than two decades, Lebanese civilians have been made to suffer on behalf of Syria’s interests and this should not be allowed to continue. Likewise, Israel putting pressure on innocent civilians to have an effect on the Beirut “government” is a bankrupt and immoral policy because such a government exists solely by the full might of the Syrian occupation army.

The people of Lebanon are victims of Syrian dictator Hafez Assad, who is willing to fight to the last Lebanese. The time has come to evict all foreign forces from Lebanon and allow the Lebanese to live in peace with all their neighbors and not as pawns in the political games of outsiders.

DANIEL NASSIF

Washington Representative

Council of Lebanese American

Organizations

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* The subheading of your editorial declared that Israel should end its attacks in the face of a rising civilian toll. The Times completely ignores the fundamental right of self-defense of a country under military attack. Hezbollah is an anti-Israel terrorist force, created by Iran and now sustained by both Iran and Syria. Hezbollah directs military assaults on Israel from civilian areas. Your editorial even acknowledges this. Hezbollah is thus morally responsible for putting civilians in the line of fire.

If Hezbollah wants to protect innocent people, it could launch its operations from remote or unpopulated areas. Instead, the Hezbollah terrorists, in a most cynical and cowardly manner, use innocent civilians as human shields.

Ultimately, of course, if Hezbollah ceased all of its terrorist activities and recognized Israel’s right to exist, Israel would not have to defend itself in southern Lebanon.

FRANCINE HANBERG

President

EDWARD TABASH

Political Action Co-chair

Democrats for Israel of L.A.

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* In his April 16 Op-Ed piece, “Arab Leaders Must Stop Reign of Terror,” Robert Scheer misleads readers when he states that Jordan has allowed Hamas to operate freely in Jordan. The fact of the matter is that Hamas has absolutely no legal presence in Jordan, nor does it by any means enjoy the support of the government of Jordan.

Furthermore, Jordan’s commitment to fighting terrorism is indisputable. As King Hussein has often asserted, Jordan has always believed that “world peace is the path to human salvation,” and has unequivocally condemned all terrorist operations and the killing of innocent lives. Jordan has been adamantly opposed to the use of religion for political purposes, be it Islam or any other faith.

Fighting terrorism, however, should not blur the distinction between peaceful, law-abiding citizens expressing their political views and terrorist organizations which undertake military actions against innocent civilians. Under the right to freedom of expression and association with legal, nonviolent political parties, Jordanians are entitled to express their sympathies with any political party or ideology--from the left to the right--as long as that party’s objectives are pursued through nonviolent means. Within the past year, Jordan has taken action to expel non-Jordanians who claimed to speak on behalf of Hamas. It would be illogical for Jordan to tolerate violence of any kind, particularly that aimed at destroying the peace process when the country has done so much for the cause of peace in the Middle East. Scheer should have the facts straight before editorializing on an issue as serious as this one.

RANIA ATALLA, Director

Jordan Information Bureau

Washington

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* Israel’s “Operation Grapes of Wrath” should have been called “Operation Waste of Time.” How can they uproot an organization that has gained such great popularity in Lebanon over the past 10 years? It is impossible! The Hezbollah and most Lebanese people have one major thing in common: a great hatred of Israel. Is it justified to hate Israel for stealing your land and killing your family members? The reality is that Hezbollah is not going anywhere. In fact, its popularity seems to be growing.

Should Israel be reminded of when it drove Arafat and the PLO out of Beirut in 1982? Where are Arafat and the PLO living now?

MICHAEL S. DWAILEEBE

Costa Mesa

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* I do not know what is more tragic; bombing women and children who sought a shelter near a U.N. center in southern Lebanon or Israel convincing the world that it is all Hezbollah’s fault. A quick look at the political map is enough for any American to find out that the “security zone” is actually Lebanese land occupied by Israel.

AYHAM DAHI