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The Red Cross on top of a Lebanese ambulance is used as "bulls-eye" by Israeli Airforce.

Sometimes terrorism is seem as justified when used by those who have no high-tech arms against the families of those whose Government has an air force, tanks and planes. Sometimes governments think terrifying people is justified in the cause of "preventing terrorism". The massive destruction of homes and farms, such as on the West Bank or in Lebanon, must also be seen as acts of terrorism since it seems they are designed to achieve political ends through creating fear and terror among civilians. It seems to be the only possible motive for many of Israeli bombing attacks - such as on this ambulance. All such acts are always violations of international law - and all greatly degrade the user.

We live in a world where we all have come to fear the consequences of terrorism. In recent years it has been used in Ireland and the UK, in the Balkans, in Central and West Africa, in the Philippines, in Sri Lanka and Kashmir, in Palestine and Israel, in Peru, Iraq and in Russia - all before the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York. Our world is becoming a village in which the fate of one affects all – so it is more and more important that our world is ruled by just laws. This is essential if we are protect the well-being of our children and of their children. We need international criminal courts, we need international police – governed by the highest principles of justice –and we need enforced human rights and environmental laws. Getting these right and putting them into effect is the challenge for our time.

If we are to achieve a just world, or even understand what is happening in this world, we need to practice putting ourselves in the shoes of others - imagining what life is currently like for them !

In my view, the destruction now happening in Lebanon is a criminal act by the State of Israel. No Hezbollah violence justifies it's actions. Israel should have released the thousands of Lebanese prisoners they have illegally held for years without trial. It was warned by Hezbollah months before all this started that, if they did not release these men, then it would try to seize some hostages in order to negotiate their release. This does not excuse their violent capture - but this should have been resolved years ago by all sides setting illegal captives free. It was no justification for devastating a nation.