Back to Beirut

This morning, news outlets are reporting that over 350 civilians have died during Israel's bombing of southern Lebanon. At one point, an Israeli missile hit a bus carrying refugees and three were killed. While Israel has temporarily lifted its blockade to allow the Red Cross to bring supplies into major cities, Israel has refused (as of this writing) to guarantee the safety of Red Cross convoys bringing supplies to the actual sites of bombings.

At least one commentator from a center right think tank in Jerusalem has suggested that Israel's massive bombing attack was designed to motivate the UN to place a peacekeeing force in southern Lebanon. This is a change of course for Israel, who had previously scoffed at the PLO's requests for international peacekeepers. Apparently, Israel feels that anti- Arab sentiment in the US and Europe will strengthen its hand in this regard.