Developments in the Middle East (July 27th)

Al-Qaida calls for holy war against Israel. This is not the first time Moslems have called for holy war against Israel. This is not even the first time they have been frank about their aims:

al-Qaida now views "all the world as a battlefield open in front of us."

(snip)

"It is a jihad (holy war) for the sake of God and will last until (our) religion prevails ... from Spain to Iraq," al-Zawahri said. "We will attack everywhere."

Now what are the chances that politicians will pass up political games in order to deal with this? What are the chances the moonbats on the left and isolationist wingnuts on the right will believe them?



Israel decides not to expand offensive



Thus marking it as essentially defensive in nature. A true offensive would sweep through Lebanon as a whole (at least) in order to annihilate Hesbollah. But they are limiting the territory they are cleaning out to that within easy rocket range of Israel. 1400 rockets launched towards Israeli civilians in the last three weeks, and counting. I'm actually disappointed in the decision, as it removes any possibility that this will come to a final resolution unless the Israeli cabinet changes its mind. Hesbollah is not going to change. They get their funding and other support from the mullahs in Iran, they get their hate from anti-Jewish propaganda and holding generations old grudges against Israel for winning a fight the Arabs started.



The difference between understanding war because it's been constant for the last sixty years, and not understanding it because it's been 140 years since the last fighting on your soil: Deadly conflict brings out harder Israeli edge

Even among Arab residents of Haifa, Israel's third-largest city and one of its most mixed, there was little sympathy for Hizbollah or Lebanon, where more than 400 people, most of them civilians, have been killed by Israeli air strikes and shelling.



"I am an Arab but I am also an Israeli," an electrician, who gave his name as Nabil, said as he helped friends clean up a restaurant that has been closed since the fighting began on July 12.

neo-neocon and Michael Totten on the current political situation in Lebanon.



Lileks has his own thoughts.



Jawa Report has an email that makes a liar out of the UN - Hesbollah was using them for cover. LGF has more. Wizbang has still more details, in that the UN allowed Hesbollah to set up their post around and within the UN post.



Big Lizards notes the size of Israel's opposition as opposed to Israel.



Victor Davis Hanson notes that for the chattering classes, it's more of the same outhouse, different day. How long before those who keep believing, against all evidence, that Israel's enemies are peaceful, consider changing their minds? Have they all got to be dead before we can have an honest conversation?