Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Whither humanity?

Israel's threat to flatten entire villages in southern Lebanon shows it has no regard for humanity. How can the international community remain silent in the face of such atrocity? What right does Israel have to annihilate Lebanon?

S. Mohamed Mumtaj Begam,
Karaikal, Pondicherry

The photograph on the front page (July 28) speaks volumes to the plight of the Lebanese. The sight of a citizen standing amid the rubble of what was once his home is poignant. Do we have to wait for things to reach our backyards before we react to the atrocities Israel is committing with the support of the U.S. and the U.K.?

Aruna Suresh,
Chennai

While the killing of four U.N. officials evoked some response from all corners of the world, the killing of hundreds of Lebanese civilians by Israeli bombings seems to be passing into history without anyone taking notice. In fact, the U.S. and the U.K. regard them as tactical action by Israel to defend itself. It is important for the world body to intervene to prevent the slaughter of more innocent people.

Suvaid Yaseen,
New Delhi

The killing of U.N. observers and subsequent lukewarm murmurs clearly highlight the lack of sensitivity in the international community for loss of human lives. If such wars in the name of a fight against terrorism gain legitimacy in the absence of a clear-cut international consensus, we will have wars everywhere because there are terrorists everywhere.

Sanjay Yadav,
New Delhi

It seems the rest of the world has bowed to the pressure of the U.S. and Israel and is unable to save the people of Lebanon. The U.N. is fast losing its relevance and the day is not far when the crisis will snowball into a war in the Middle East, spelling disaster for the world.

Akhil Kumar,
New Delhi

The so-called civilised nations should learn a lesson or two on ethics from ancient times when it was a convention not to hurt civilians even during war.

K.S. Hrishikesh,
Chennai

Whatever Israel's justification for its action in the name of fighting terror, it will remain unconvincing as long as innocent persons get killed. Israel must reconsider its decision to go ahead with the virtual carnage it is subjecting Lebanon to.

Ankur Agarwal,
Noida, U.P.

The abduction of two Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah was no doubt a provocation that warranted retaliation. But it is the civilians who are becoming victims of Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. The Hizbollah cadres are safe in their hideouts. Israel must be stopped from causing further damage.

K.V. Seetharamaiah,
Hassan, Karnataka

The international community's dangerous indifference is frightening. Silence can be deafening when it is practised at the wrong time. History has proved that a word of reprimand can achieve a lot more than a thousand humanitarian actions.

Manu Melwin Joy,
Thrissur, Kerala

Israeli action has made the U.N. irrelevant as a war prevention mechanism. Over and above the killing of Lebanese civilians and U.N. observers, Israel has the audacity to threaten more air strikes. There is an urgent need to enforce a ceasefire. If the U.N. wants to maintain its credibility as a world body, it must make its presence felt.

Deepak Kumar,
New Delhi

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