Military

DATE=08/15/2003

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-10802

TITLE=EDITORIAL: SUPPORT FOR HEZBOLLAH MUST END

INTERNET=Yes

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: On August 9th, sixteen-year-old Haviv Dadon was killed near his home in Shlomi, Israel, by an artillery shell fired by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. At least four other civilians, including a woman and her nine-month-old son were injured. Hours later, Israeli jets struck at Hezbollah terrorist positions in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has been shelling Israeli border posts since August 8th. An Israeli preschool and a shopping center have been hit. Responsibility for the attacks rests with Hezbollah and its supporters -- Iran, Lebanon, and Syria.

Formed in 1982, Hezbollah is a radical Shia Muslim terrorist group. It takes its inspiration from the late Ayatollah Khomeini and the radical Muslim regime he founded in Iran. Hezbollah's stated goal is the annihilation of the state of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic clerical regime in Lebanon.

Hezbollah receives substantial amounts of money, training, weapons, explosives, and other aid from Iran. Syria permits Iran to supply Hezbollah in Lebanon via Damascus. It also gives it diplomatic and political support.

Lebanon has long allowed Hezbollah and terrorist groups such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and HAMAS to operate from Lebanese territory. U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker says this must stop:

(ACT :26 DALET: POLICY/EDITORIALS) "We will continue to urge Syria and Lebanese leaders, to remind them that there is a new strategic dynamic in the region, and the time has come for them to end their support for Hezbollah terrorist operation, and, at the same time, continue to urge Lebanon to deploy its armed forces to take control from Hezbollah over the southern border region of Lebanon, as required under the U-N Security Council Resolution 1496." (END ACT)

Hezbollah terrorists in Beirut bombed the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine barracks in 1983 and the U.S. Embassy annex in 1984. They hijacked an airliner and murdered an American passenger in 1985. They have bombed embassies, kidnapped Westerners in Lebanon, and killed men, women, and children in Israel and Argentina.

President George W. Bush has a message for Hezbollah's state sponsors. He says, "Syria and Iran continue to harbor and assist terrorists. This behavior is completely unacceptable and states that support terror will be held accountable."

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-voanews-dot-com-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.