A war against Islamic extremism?
It is misleading to portray the war as one pitting 'Western civilisation' against 'Islamic extremism'. Lebanese Christians have also been victims of Israel's aggression, whether among the dead, wounded or displaced.
Also, Christian areas such as Zahleh, Junieh, Qaa, Mount Lebanon, Rmeish, Ain Ebel and Christian districts of Beirut have been attacked by Israel. The bombing of Qaa resulted in the highest single death toll along with that of Qana, the place of Jesus's first miracle, turning water into wine.
Lebanese Christians have given refuge to their Muslim compatriots, and Christians in Lebanon and worldwide have demonstrated against and condemned Israel's actions. According to a 26 July poll by the Beirut Center for Research and Information (the country's main polling institute), Hezbollah's approval rating among Lebanese runs as high as 86.9%, including the majority of Christians (54.7%).
Lebanon's Christian president has been highly critical of Israel's onslaught, and on 1 August Lebanese Christian religious leaders – including the patriarcate of the Maronite church, the country's largest Christian community – called for an immediate halt to Israel's "war crimes," denounced "the aggressions...which are war crimes against the Lebanese people," called on "the international community to halt the aggression...and lift the unjust [Israeli] blockade," and "hailed the resistance, mainly led by Hezbollah which represents one of the sections of society."
On 3 August, the Geneva-based World Council of Churches – which brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican churches representing about 560 million Christians in 110 countries – condemned Israel's actions and the international community's lack of action.
"A war of ominous dimension and of far-reaching consequences is causing unimaginable and untold suffering to the people in Lebanon," said WCC General Secretary Reverend Samuel Kobia.
"Yet these developments seemed to have no effect on the leaders of countries like Israel, the US and the UK. Our hearts cry out to the leaders of the international community. We pray for all the people of Lebanon, Muslims and Christians alike. The present disproportionate acts of violence of immense magnitude can have no justification. It is indeed shocking and disgraceful for world leaders to stand before the bar of public opinion and announce in a most callous manner that fighting will continue until strategic military objectives are met."
A petition signed by 35,000 Britons, urging Prime Minister Tony Blair to call for a ceasefire to allow aid to Lebanese civilians, was backed by Christian Aid, among other international humanitarian organisations.
Lastly, it is preposterous to portray Hezbollah as part of an axis of 'Shia extremism' including those in Iraq and Iran, since support for the group in Lebanon and beyond transcends sectarian lines.
It is equally absurd to draw a link between Hezbollah and Al Qaeda and other Islamist militant groups, as there is simply no evidence for this.