James McConvill contends that Israel is a "basket case". Having just watched this evening's "Four Corners" report ('Execution of a teenage girl' - the story of sixteen-year-old Atefah Sahaaleh who was hanged in a public square in the Iranian city of Neka, for "crimes against chastity"), I would really like McConvill to tell us how he views the wonderful Islamic Republic of Iran.

Or is the brutal, sadistic misogyny of the Iranian regime somehow to be excused on the basis of that regime feeling a little "vulnerable"?

Kvasir makes the point: "Who would like to live in Saudi Arabia or Iran as non-Muslims?" But the real question is, who would ever want to live in these vile basket-case countries as women?

Plerdsus

1. The media doesn’t report the daily atrocities committed by Israeli “Defence” Force soldiers because this doesn’t make headlines. We have become normalised to this violence. The other day when 4 UN representatives were killed in Lebanon there was a lot of coverage. In the same breath they then mentioned how 300 Palestinians had been killed. Death has become part and parcel of life. Please do not try and make out as if Suicide bombers are the problems of the world. The ethnicity of the first suicide bombers means that religion has nothing to do with it. It’s all political. As communists they opposed Israel’s dictatorship over the territories. I’m sure Palestinians have been inspired ever since.

2. Hezbollah is the only organisation which can claim that it’s acting out of defence. It was started as a resistance movement against Israel’s invasions. It’s the only army to ever defeat Israel. So paint it a terrorist organisation all you like but it’s no more affiliated with terrorism than Israel

3. Can a debate about Israel and Palestine not turn to the Holocaust for support? Unless you want to compare how Israel is carrying out genocide of its own. I can go with that one.

4. All of Israel’s actions in Lebanon have been calculated very accurately. They have been planning this attack for years now. They know exactly what they’re doing. Sending out pamphlets and then bombing the fleeing villagers does not count.

5. The ratio between Palestinian deaths and Israeli deaths is 7.7 -1.

6. You think the Muslim terrorists in Bali are somehow connected to those in Israel? Not only are the Muslims in Bali different to those in the Middle East (culturally as well as religiously) but it’s impossible to claim that all Muslims are the same and all their actions are well planned like they get together every week and decide how they can destroy the West!

7. What if they cut the US off from its oil? US = no oil, Israel = no funds – neither can continue its tyranny. Then who destroys itself?

Just re-reading McConvill's appalling article. After mentioning Dubya's "axis of evil", he goes on to state that: "But the real evil stems from within the territory of Israel ..."

I can only imagine that The Protocols of the (Learned) Elders of Zion was required reading in his tertiary education, for him to spout this inflammatory rubbish.

In response to fleurette. You state in Point 4 that:
All of Israel’s actions in Lebanon have been calculated very accurately. They have been planning this attack for years now. They know exactly what they’re doing. Sending out pamphlets and then bombing the fleeing villagers does not count.

Yet in an interview with The Sunday Times (July 29, 2006) the Hezbollah deputy, Sheikh Naim Qassem, admitted that Hezbollah had been planning for this current conflict for the past six years. It takes two to tango.

I would also like to know why all of those who disparage Israel are blind to the far greater tyrannies carried out by Arab and Islamic governments in the Middle East? Or don't the people of Darfur, of the Western Sahara, or the Kurds count?

I to wince at the killing of civilians in Lebanon and Palestine but we have to look at Israel's actions from their perspective.

Their civilians are being attacked and killed by two groups, Hezbollah and Hamas, that are dedicated to the destruction of Israel. These two groups are the puppets of Iran, and to a lesser extent, Syria. Both countries are dedicated to the destruction of Israel. Indeed the Iranian secular and political leadership have both publicly stated that Iran can accept extensive civilian casualties in a nuclear exchange with Israel if it leads to Israel ceasing to exist.
Understandably Israel's perception is that it is fighting for its very existence.

Think further about previous ceasefires and UN resolutions in that none so far have secured peace for Israel. Is it any wonder that they feel that they have to go it alone?

Think back to 1967 and 1973. Did Israel attack Lebanon then? No, there was no need, there was peace on that border. Only after Lebanon fell into chaos with the PLO first, then the militias and now Hezbollah has Israel had to act on that border.

Hezbollah is fighting a proxy war for Iran and Syria. Any protestations that it it defending the people of Lebanon are falsehoods. Hezbollah is cynically using those people to further the aims of Iran and Syria. Israel is between a rock and a hard place and regardless of whatever actions both sides take ultimately there will be no winners.

I support Israel's right to exist in peace just like I support the same goal for the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples but I don't support the existence of Hezbollah or Hamas who are simply proxies for third parties.

Unfortunately, I see no resolution to this situation and predict a nuclear exchange between Israel and Iran in 3-5 years if the current Iranian leadership does not change its views.

"Yuyutsu" you said the following:

"Those pilots sleep like babies at night (when not on duty), because those heroes know that they fought well and saved their country and the world from evil terrorists who try to kill every man, woman and child." - Firstly, I recently saw an interview of the father of one of the captured Israeli soldiers who felt that the continued killing of the Palestinians was the cause of the problem. Secondly, I don't think that Hezbollah is posing a threat to the "world" so please spare me that Israel is protecting me. And finally you judge these supposed 'evil terrorists' on the basis of how many people they kill when clearly Israel are killing a hell of a lot more people.

You then go on to say:

"Yes, Israel does most killing - because they are better" (just a little contradictory don't you think?)

And finally you say: "You should not count casualties - but intentions: How many people does Israel wish to kill? 0" - I am no military expert Yuyutsu but I would have thought bombing hospitals and residential homes has a pretty narrow range of outcomes mate the primary one being that of killing people as proved by the fact that Israel continues to.... you got it kill loads of inocent people.

Yuyutsu, if even a remotely plausable arguement was put forward by Israel I would be more than happy to listen to it. If there was even a shred of truth in their (and your) twisted arguement I would happily consider it, however saddy both you and the Israel lobby just don't seem to be able to do it.

"As events over the last few days have shown, it is a unprincipled basket case that will kill, maim, whatever it takes, to protect its borders."

How dare Israel want to protect its own borders! The nerve of those Jews! They should just roll over and let surrounding nations harbor terrorists who lob rockets into their country like any decent nation would!