Ebook: The War on Lebanon: A Reader

Israel's 34-day bombardment of Lebanon in the summer of 2006 demands international attention not only for its tragic results - the death of over 1,000 Lebanese civilians and the devastation of Lebanon's infrastructure and environment - but for its implications for all of the Middle East.
What explains Hizballah's capture of two Israeli soldiers and the scale of Israel's retaliation? Why did the US reject an early cease-fire, instead encouraging Israel as Lebanese casualties mounted? Why did President Bush and Secretary of State Rice claim the Lebanese and the Arab world would welcome the "birth pangs" of a "new Middle East" designed by the US and Israel? And where will it all lead? Will Lebanon become a modern, non-sectarian state or will the confessional order be further entrenched?
These and other vital questions are addressed in this collection of essays, by internationally respected scholars and experts who examine the ethical, legal, and strategic issues of the Israeli invasion, and analyze the regional and global consequences.
Ultimately, the war on Lebanon is intricately connected to the wider issues of the Middle East-from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Israeli assault on Gaza to the US efforts to "bring democracy" to the region. This book is an indispensable resource on both recent events and what the future may bring.