Sir, - Your editorial "Pawns Again in a Violent Game", of April 16th, implies that Israel's operation in Lebanon is to harm innocent civilians. We appreciate the concern for human lives and in this regard I would like to point out that what is at stake is providing a return to normal life for Israel's citizens, many of whom have been injured by Hizbullah rocket attacks in the past months.
In the last week, 109 Katyusha rockets have been fired at northern Israel, numerous Israelis have been injured and approximately 600 buildings have been damaged. These rocket attacks have resulted in the evacuation off women, children, and the elderly from Israel's northern towns and villages, while those who remain are forced to spend most of the time underground in bomb shelters.
After it became evident that diplomatic and other means of putting an end to terrorist acts - were unsuccessful, Israel has undertaken "Operation Grapes of Wrath", within its inherent right of self defence, to end the scourge - of the indiscriminate bombing of northern Israel.
Operations are being conducted solely against Hizbullah terrorist targets. The civilian population of South Lebanon has been repeatedly warned to leave designated combat areas, not to travel in Hizbullah vehicles and to get as far away as possible from Hizbullah emplacements. Hizbullah positions are usually located in the midst of Lebanese civilian population centres, thus attempting to make their own communities human shields.
Those civilian casualties, when they occur, are inadvertent, regrettable and could have been avoided if IDF warnings had been heeded.
Israel welcomes diplomatic initiatives that will ensure a permanent end to Hizbullah terrorism. Israel has no territorial claim on Lebanese territory and is eager to reach a peace settlement with Lebanon on the basis of mutual security and recognition of the international border. This, of course, cannot materialise while Hizbullah, an organisation whose declared aim is the destruction of Israel, carries out terrorist attacks from southern Lebanon. - Yours, etc.
Ambassador of Israel, Embassy of Israel,
Dublin.