Feinstein Defends Israeli Actions Against Lebanon

KCBS ^ | 7/23/06

[LdSentinal]

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KCBS/AP) -- Israel and the United States share common values of democracy and the rule of law, said California's senior Senator, speaking in San Francisco at a rally in support of Israel's military campaign in Lebanon.

“When terrorists attacked our country on 9-11, Israel did not waiver in support of the United States,” Feinstein said in Justin Herman Plaza on Sunday afternoon. “Now, in time of need, we will not waiver in our support for the state of Israel.”

Feinstein said the U.S. and Israel face common threats from the region, including nuclear and biological attacks.

The few hundred people who applauded Feinstein's remarks outnumbered a smaller demonstration that took place earlier condemning Israeli assaults on Lebanese civilians.

“We think it's shameful that Senator Feinstein is here today to support a war against the civilian population of Lebanon and Gaza,” Todd Cretian, the Green Party candidate for Feinstein's Senate seat, told KCBS reporter Henry Mulak.

The counter demonstrators called for Israel to withdraw ground forces from southern Lebanon and halt air strikes began July 12 after Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed three others in a cross-border raid.

U.S. officials have opposed calls for an immediate cease-fire, and Feinstein's remarks in the Bay Area come as President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and national security advisor in the White House to discuss the conflict.

Rice is scheduled to go to Jerusalem on Sunday evening, where she hopes to broker what she calls a “lasting” end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Rice also has stops on the West Bank, to meet with Palestinian leaders, and Rome, for talks with European and Arab diplomats.

An immediate cease fire, Rice said, would only leave Hezbollah in position to continue terrorist attacks on Israel.

Syria, one of Hezbollah's main backers, said it will press for a cease-fire to end the fighting _ but only in the framework of a broader Middle East peace initiative that would include the return of the Golan Heights. Israel was unlikely to accept such terms but the remarks were the first indication of Syria's willingness to be involved in international efforts to defuse the Lebanese crisis.

Israel said it would accept a NATO-led international force to keep the peace along the border.

Israeli troops continued to hold a Lebanese border village that they battled into on Saturday, but did not appear to be advancing, Lebanese security officials said. Its warplanes and artillery, meanwhile, battered areas across the south.

A member of the U.N. observer team in south Lebanon was wounded by guerrilla fire and a Lebanese photographer became the first journalist to die in the fighting when an Israeli missile hit near her taxi in southern Lebanon.

Israeli warplanes struck a minibus carrying people fleeing the fighting Sunday in southern Lebanon, killing three people, Lebanese security officials said, and two people were killed as about 90 Hezbollah rockets fell on northern Israel.

The stricken minibus was carrying 16 people fleeing the village of Tairi, heading through the mountains for the southern port city of Tyre. A missile hit the bus near the village of Yaatar, killing three and wounding the rest, security officials said.

Israel's Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, told the Cabinet that the current offensive is not an invasion of Lebanon, but rather a series of limited raids. He also said that Israel would accept a temporary international force, preferably headed by NATO, deployed along the Lebanese border to keep Hezbollah guerrillas away from Israel, according to officials in his office.

Israel hit the southern port of Sidon for the first time, destroying a religious complex linked to Hezbollah and wounding four people. More than 35,000 people streaming north from the heart of the war zone had swamped the city, which is teetering under the weight of refugees.

Israel also bombed a textile factory in the border town of al-Manara, killing one person and wounding two, Mayor Ali Rahal told The Associated Press.

Aid supplies arrived Friday and Saturday on ships carrying Europeans evacuees. The exodus of foreigners continues, with tens of thousands, including 7,500 Americans, taken out by sea the past week.

[Dog Gone]

Syria, one of Hezbollah's main backers, said it will press for a cease-fire to end the fighting _ but only in the framework of a broader Middle East peace initiative that would include the return of the Golan Heights.

Oh sure. Israel, if you give up more strategic territory, we'll be nice.

[ClaireSolt]

I see no future in criticizing a Jewess standing up for Israel. Of course, the Green Party never has had a future imho.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Only an American Liberal would buy into that garbage. Give me a break!

[GlennLivett]

Obviously, the Rats are paying attention to the focus groups. They never do anything without polling a focus group.

[ExTexasRedhead]

She's standing up for Israel to get more money and votes from Liberal Jews. As a resident of California and a Republican Jew, I can assure you of that. The same goes for her Liberal buddy, Barbara (airhead) Boxer.

[hsalaw]

Rice is scheduled to go to Jerusalem on Sunday evening, where she hopes to broker what she calls a “lasting” end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Good luck with that "lasting end of the fighting" thing, Condi, unless you're taking enough bombs with you to wipe out the hezbollah terrorists and Syria/Iran, as well.

[umgud]

Hang on DiFi, it's only gonna get worse being a Jew and a Democrat. Especially when you agree with Bush.

[Mark]

Feinstein and Lieberman-- soon to be dumped by the Berkley/Liberal Cobol.

[jeltz25]

It is interesting to watch the jewish dems try and straddle the fence and support Bush's stance on Israel.

the NYT hasn't written on editorial on the whole subjetc in the past 2 weeks. you just know that they want to, but they can't rip Bush for supporting Israel because they'll alienate all their jewish readers who generally agree with them on most things. So they've kept quiet, and it has to be killing them

[goldstategop]

I don't usually see eye to eye with Feinstein on anything. But this once, I agree with her Israel deserves America's full and unreserved support in a time of peril. Israel was there for us when we came under attack on 9/11. Now its our turn to reciprocate that support.

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em, Down Hezbullies.)

[Dog Gone]

Israel was there for us when we came under attack on 9/11.

In what way?

[dfwgator]

I think DiFi isn't nearly as bad as most of her fellow Democrats, once in awhile she will say something reasonable, like this.

[GLH3IL]

If Im not mistaken Israel sent over some kind of help with search and rescue operations....given what they've been through they would have folks that would be definite experts on terrorist attack rescue and recovery operations.

[Dog Gone]

That would be news to me, although I'm always glad to learn good news.

[lowbridge]

a war against the civilian population of Lebanon and Gaza,” Todd Cretian, the Green Party candidate

Sheesh.

[Salem]

I'm surprised she didn't demand the Israelis turn in their guns.

---

Zec 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.





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[tessalu]

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