LEYDEN, MASS.-In response to Holland Mills' recent letter, it's essential to address significant omissions and clarify the context.
The claim that "no less than a million Lebanese have fled Israel's newly-launched ground war" lacks credible support. This exaggeration misinforms readers giving a distorted narrative that unfairly singles out Israel while overlooking the severe, ongoing threats of daily attack by Hezbollah on Israeli civilians.
In contrast to Hezbollah's surprise bombing attacks, Lebanese civilians in the region were given guidance and support from the Israeli Defense Forces on how to evacuate safely.
Southern Lebanon has become a de facto military base for Hezbollah. The IDF is dismantling tunnels equipped with weapons caches and rocket launchers. They found plans, tunnels, and weapons in half of the civilian homes, and within sight of United Nations headquarters.
This is clear evidence of Hezbollah's intent to carry out a large-scale attack similar to that of Oct. 7, 2023. These activities violate U.N. Resolution 1701, under which U.N. Peacekeepers were charged with preventing such actions in this area.
Since Oct. 8, 2023, Hezbollah - an internationally recognized terrorist organization whose goal is the destruction of Israel - has launched over 14,900 rockets at innocent Israeli civilians. More than 80,000 Israelis were evacuated from Northern Israel. The goal of the war is to return them to their homes (although many are destroyed).
The letter's portrayal of Israel's actions as "ethnic cleansing" ignores Israel's legitimate right to defend her people against bombings. Israel's efforts are defensive, addressing a sustained pattern of attacks that endanger her citizens and violate international law.
Israel has repeatedly sought peaceful resolutions, including territorial withdrawals, as part of her commitment to a two-state solution promoting regional coexistence. Casting Israel's self-defense measures into a skewed, one-sided view does a disservice to readers and mischaracterizes the complex realities on the ground.
It's critical to present a balanced perspective that considers Israel's security challenges and Hezbollah's clear violations of international mandates.
Rhonda Wainshilbaum
Leyden, Mass.
This letter to the editor was submitted to The Commons.
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