In July 2006, in response to a Lebanese Hezbollah cross border raid, which killed and captured several Israeli soldiers, Israel launched an intensive bombing campaign on Lebanon. More than a thousand Lebanese were killed and serious damage was done to the country's infrastructure. Israel claimed it was acting in self-defense. Most saw the scale of the retaliation disproportionate. The United States blocked calls for an early ceasefire and provided arms to Israel. It should be recalled that Israel occupied Lebanon from 1982-2000 sowing bitterness among many Lebanese. Seymour Hersh has reported that Washington endorsed in advance Tel Aviv's plan to bomb Lebanon. U.S. support of Israel in the war has intensified already high anti-American feelings in the region. Lebanon is left with massive rebuilding costs and a fragile internal political structure.

Nubar Hovsepian
Nubar Hovsepian is professor of political science and international relations at Chapman University. He is the author of "The War on Lebanon." His forthcoming book is "The Politics of Palestinian Education."