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Middle East crisis: Your comments

Rabiya Parekh | 10:43 UK time, Friday, 28 July 2006

As I've mentioned before one of the first jobs of my day include going through the emails that have come in to the programme overnight.

Many emails come in during the show, but as hard as we try to get all of your comments on sometimes that is not always possible. Last night Dan Shaham, Director of Public Affairs at the Israeli Embassy in London took your questions.

Looking at the range of emails and blog comments we received following the programme I would say that there was an even split in those of you who thought we treated him fairly and those who thought we didn't.

Here's a selection of some the emails that have come in. Martin Wespestad in London referred to a question asked by a caller about the reason behind bombing a power station in Gaza following the capture of the Israeli soldier, Cpl Gilad Shalit.

I can't believe at the end of your WHYS program you allowed Dan from the Israeli embassy of the hook on the question of the destruction of the power-station in Gaza, - he began to explain that it was in reaction to kidnapping a soldier, in other words he was confirming that this was collective punishment. Collective punishment is crime in international law.

Chris in Virginia, USA emailed us to respond to alot of what Mr Shaam had said throughout the show.

It is disingenuous to reply to questions about the Israeli occupation of Palestine with retorts that Israel was no occupying Lebanon, particularly when, a moment before, you were separating Hezbollah from Lebanon, as you should. Hezbollah fights in response to Middle Eastern politics, not in defence of Lebanon. It is also very difficult to reconcile the idea that Israelis are willing to attain peace through peaceful negotiations, when the man who came the closest to securing long term peace, the Premier who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Yassir Arafat, was murdered by his own people for his negotiations with PLO. Finally, blaming Hezbollah for the death of Lebanese civilians is repulsive. Hiding in civilian populations is what terrorist groups do. Passing the blame does not excuse Israel's actions. When a surgeon wants to remove a tumour that is nestled between vital organs, they grab a scalpel for precise cuts, and leave the broadsword for the barbarians.

Nabil in Morocco contacted us to voice his anger at the countries he feels have done nothing to help resolve the crisis.

Why is the rest of the world doing nothing to stop this killing? The Arab world should be ashamed of itself. Including our country Morocco.

H Brewer in China got his email in a little late to put to Mr Shaham, but he wanted to ask this

How can IDF say that it is going to rid the world of Hezbollah's threat when surely by the disproportionate response in Lebanon and the killing of 10 innocent Lebanese for every Israeli, or every Hezbollah fighter, -surely there will be even more recruitment to the likes of Hezbollah in the future? Surely the solution would be to recognise Hezbollah as a political force so that you could talk, and they would be forced to talk.

Daniel in Dallas emailed to say supported the Israeli operation, but was critical of the current strategy. He wanted to ask Mr Shaham

How do you justify Israel's broad offensive? In other words, why doesn't Israel minimise casualties by more isolated attacks with solid evidence of Hezbollah positions? I agree with the Israeli reaction, just not really how they are executing operations.

And Tom In Australia emailed to say

I am a Jew in Australia and am despairing at the entire situation over there. In my opinion the conflict, and others, stems from having a state based on religion rather than a truly secular state. Iran is not a secular state. Iraq called itself a secular state but was in fact a Sunni dictatorship. Palestine want an Islamic state. The USA is also called secular, but was founded by Christians fleeing Europe. The conflict will always be there, with better times and worse times (such as now) whilst we have states based on specific religions. Whether one side has one bit of land now, or has bombed one side or not is irrelevant - become secular states and practise your religions in peace.

Tonight we hope to have Nawar Sahili, an MP in Lebanon from Hezbollah. He'll be available to take your calls and answer your questions on the current crisis. Please do keep sending us in your questions and we will do our best to put them all to him.

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