News Highlights:
- Israel bombs Lebanon for the 7th day, killing another 29 people, and raising the death toll to more than 250 Lebanese, mostly civilians; there is also heavy destruction on ports, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
- Israeli cabinet says that Israel intends to create a “buffer zone” in south Lebanon; so far, 25 Israelis have died, 13 of them civilians.
- July 17th – Israeli jets fire missiles at people fleeing the fighting in south Lebanon, killing 12 civilians, including 7 Canadians.
- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says there should be a ceasefire when “conditions are conducive to do so”; U.S. administration says it is not backing calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Feature:
A live studio interview with Arik, an Israeli peace activist and refusenik, who is currently visiting Vancouver. Arik spoke movingly about what prompted him to refuse his service with the Israeli army, despite enormous social pressure to stay quiet. Arik also detailed his experiences here in Vancouver with Jews for a Just Peace and announced upcoming events at which he would be speaking. There was also discussion of the current Israeli invasion into Lebanon, and an article by leading Israeli activist Uri Avnery in which he compares this latest aggression with Israel’s 1982 invasion.
Focus on Zionism:
Excerpts of a July 16th, 2006 article from the British Observer with eyewitness reports from the aftermath of the deadly Israeli air strike on civilian vehicles fleeing south Lebanon, that left 20 people dead, including many children and seven Canadians.