CAABU Director comments on Qana

CAABU Director Chris Doyle comments on Qana and Israel’s disproportionate reaction on BBC London Radio.

In an interview on BBC London, Chris Doyle, the Director of CAABU stressed that this crisis is serious, not just for Lebanon and Israel, but also for the wider region. Israel’s reaction has been disproportionate, targeting the Lebanese army, Christians, civilians, and even a UN post potentially. He stated that ‘Israel’s reactions are disproportionate by any measure of understanding of that word.’ On the one hand, they have sent down flyers calling on Lebanese civilians to leave certain areas, but they are continuing the shellings, which are hitting the convoys of people leaving those areas. In Qana today, where over 60 people were killed, they had decided to stay because it was too dangerous to flee. The bridges and roads are being bombed and many people do not have the ability to leave.

Israel’s reaction is counter productive and increases tensions in the region. This paves the way for extremism to ‘flourish,’ which is a danger to everyone, including British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and civilians in London.

He explained that ten years ago, Britain would have ‘taken the EU position, rooted in international law and with reference to UN resolutions.’ But Blair has increasingly stepped back from criticising Israel and sees Israel as an ally in the War on Terror, paying little attention to experts in the field. ‘Unfortunately,’ says Doyle, ‘this notion that overwhelming military power can somehow achieve political objectives is total nonsense. Time and time again we see that failing, and we are seeing that failing here.’