Report on Shelling of U.N. Camp

* “U.N. Report Disputes Israel on Shelling” (May 8) focuses on and impugns Israel for its role in counterattacking Hezbollah missile-launching sites, yet the concluding paragraphs describe Hezbollah’s use of the U.N. compound at Qana as cover for launching missiles into Israeli homes and businesses: “It [the U.N. report] says Hezbollah installed a mortar about 200 yards from the center of the compound about two hours before the weapon was used to fire on Israeli troops, but that no action was taken by U.N. personnel.”

In addition, the final paragraph could have been an article on its own: “A U.N. peacekeeper was shot in the chest as he tried to prevent Hezbollah fighters from firing rockets.”

PAUL NISENBAUM

Los Angeles

* The United Nations’ finding that it was “unlikely” Israel’s shelling of a U.N. base in southern Lebanon was the result of technical errors is consistent with the actions of an organization that once equated Zionism with racism.

Controlled in the General Assembly by Third World nations, the U.N. has consistently voted over the years for what it perceives as Arab and oil interests. The positions taken by the General Assembly and by the U.N.’s various agencies have often been inimical to the interests of the U.S.

Israel does not target or kill civilians as a tactical procedure. When terrorists hide among them, civilians can get killed in the cross-fire. Israel had nothing to gain from the killing of 100 Lebanese, other than world condemnation.

JOSEPH R. ABRAHAMSON

San Diego