Arab media watch: July 18

Al Bayan (UAE), editorial

Has international impuissance (or more accurately, international hypocrisy) reached the stage of indifference towards the Israeli abuse of international law and legitimacy whereby massacres and daily war crimes in Lebanon and Palestine are being ignored? This is an embarrassing and shameful thing for the international community, which should be guarding humanitarian laws and authoritative documents, to be competing in trying to justify Israeli [criminal] aggression in Lebanon.


Al Safeer (Lebanon), comment by Sameer Al Zain

It seems that behind the crazy Israeli war on Lebanon, there is a new functional role in the Middle East [for Israel]. The retreat of their role in the past two decades came hand in hand with America's direct involvement during the first Gulf War. It was also suitable with the collapse of the other system ...  Israel lost two strategic assets: it's strengthening position in the southern part of the Soviet Union and its role in triggering deterrence to the region.

Addustour (Jordan), editorial

What mentality accepts the "despicableness" of this [Israeli] aggression on the Palestinian and Lebanese people? There is enjoyment in murder, hatred, and violence coupled with the belittlement of countries and peoples of the world (who try to restore some security for their people but cannot seem to find anyone from the Israeli front that could keep a word of honour). Look at the intentional operations of displacing people in Lebanon. Notice how the basic supplies for the continuation of life in Lebanon and Palestine have been cut off: water, food, medicine, electricity, and fuel. This is how we can measure the amount of evil that the Israeli psyche encompasses.