An Open Letter to Newsweek: On Lebanon, Israel, and the Convenient Erasure of History
Dear Newsweek Editorial Board, We note your recent piece, "Lebanon's Christian Leaders React to Israel's 'Barbaric' Attacks," which covers the understandable outrage from Lebanese religious figures concerning Israeli aggression. While it is certainly news that Christian leaders are speaking out against the violence, your framing, typical of mainstream outlets, fails to provide the critical context
necessary for a true understanding of the situation. By labeling Israel's actions as merely 'barbaric' and presenting the condemnations as a standalone event, you neatly sidestep the systematic nature of these assaults and the active role of external powers. You characterize these as 'attacks,' yet you do not delve into the historical pattern of Israeli incursions designed to destabilize Lebanon,
which extend far beyond recent condemnations. This omits the enduring legacy of events like the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, which resulted in the massacre of thousands of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. The international community, including UN resolutions often ignored by Israel, has consistently condemned these aggressions. Your article also neglects to
mention the billions in annual military aid the United States provides to Israel, effectively making Washington a direct partner in these ongoing operations, despite its public calls for de-escalation. The Piaz urges a more rigorous analysis. The documented history of Israeli aggression against Lebanon, from the 1982 invasion to the 2006 war, demonstrates a sustained campaign of occupation and