Israeli invasion cannot be described as ‘war’

HENRY GUTERMAN (Irish Examiner letters, August 24) objects to the use of the word ‘murder’ to describe Lebanese civilian casualties and goes on say that this was ‘war’.

I object to this defence of the Israeli action as war.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines war as ‘a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations’.

A justifiable war can only take place with the approval of the international community under the guise of the UN. In armed conflict, there can be no justification for civilian deaths as a result of war, even if such deaths are inevitable.

The Israeli invasion of Lebanon was an incursion into sovereign territory to defeat perceived terrorist action. This action cannot be called a just war because to do so would be to set a dangerous precedent in international relations.

I am completing a study of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 when, in essence, similar mistakes were made and clearly the lessons have not been learned by Israel.

While I don’t agree with Fintan Lane’s accusation of ‘mass murder’ in relation to Lebanese civilians (Irish Examiner letters, August 21), I do think Israel has questions to answer because there is no justification for the extent of the loss of life.

Eoin Lynch

Ardcairn

Grange

Ovens

Co Cork