‘New war on Lebanon could spell disaster for Israel’

Press TV has conducted an interview with Omar Nashabe, from Al-Akhbar newspaper in Beirut, and Carol Gould, an investigative journalist from London, to discuss the geopolitical impacts of the historic victory of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah against Israel in 2006.

Nashabe described Israel’s 33-day war on Lebanon as a game changer conflict which tilted the balance of power in the Middle East towards the resistance forces, warning that waging any new war could have disastrous consequences for Tel Aviv.

“The rules of engagement have changed,” Nashabe underscored. “In fact if the Israelis bombard Lebanon, the Lebanese will bombard Israel. That is a very simple equation and it is protected by the UN Charter. Under Chapter 7, every nation has the right to defend itself against any aggression.”

He further noted that in the case of any new war by Israel, Hezbollah’s response would not be limited to bombardments, adding that even Israeli research centers recognize the fact that today Hezbollah has the capacity to cross the borders and to take the battle anywhere in the occupied Palestine.

The image grab shows Omar Nashabe (L), from Al-Akhbar newspaper in Beirut, and Carol Gould, an investigative journalist from London, in Press TV’s show ‘The Debate’ on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Carol Gould said that Israel, during its 2006 war on Lebanon, was accused by a number of officials from countries such as France, Russia, the US and Britain of carrying out “a disproportionate response” to the attacks on its northern cities including Haifa, a city which, according to her, had never been hit since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

Gould hinted at the possibility of new war in the region. “Ten years on there is a new scenario,” she added. “We are told that Hezbollah has around 130,000 missiles; and there is a different government in Israel with Netanyahu in charge,” which has increased the possibility of a new war between the two sides.

Asked about the reasons why she thinks there would be another conflict, she answered that “the region is coming out of control. The situation in Syria is so close-by and the Israeli government feels that at this point, there needs to be some decisive action.”