Australian citizens protest over war in Labanon

Israel’s war in Lebanon, like its 1982 forbear, was launched with the ambitious aim of buttressing Israel's regional hegemony and security. The 1982 invasion turned into an occupation of southern Lebanon that nurtured and hardened Hezbollah, which became the formidable foe that Israel today confronts. Whether the present war is over in a few days or even weeks, it is clear that not only will Hezbollah survive Israel's onslaught as perhaps the dominant political force in Lebanon, but most distressing is the possibility of Lebanon collapsing into chaos, even civil war, Boston Globe reports.

Photo: Australian citizens protest over war in Labanon

On Sunday the annual Hiroshima Day rally was held in Australian capital cities. Green Left Weekly provided an idea of what was to come. It told readers where to assemble - from Brisbane to Perth - and set out the political agenda: "Stop the war on Lebanon and Palestine. No nuclear power, no uranium mining. Troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. No attack on Iran."

There was no call on Hezbollah or Hamas to stop firing rockets indiscriminately into Israel. And there was no call on the Islamist militants in Iraq to stop murdering their fellow Iraqis by exploding bombs in marketplaces, on playing fields and the like, Sudney Morning Herald reports, according to the AP.

The Hiroshima Day Sydney website carried a similar message. It advised a theme of "no war in the Middle East" and listed the Islamic Friendship Association's Keysar Trad as a principal speaker. He was depicted on ABC TV news on Sunday night as criticising Israel - but not Iran or Syria, which back Hezbollah and Hamas. Reporting the event, Annie Guest said that "hundreds gathered in rallies like this one in Sydney, supporting peace or protesting against current conflicts".