Council of Europe: Israeli aggression on Lebanon inappropriate

The Council of Europe, the pan-European human rights body, yesterday criticized Israelis aggression in Lebanon as "inappropriate and counterproductive."

"I support the objective of the Israeli government to free captured Israeli soldiers and protect Israeli citizens from terrorist attacks, but the Israeli methods are inappropriate and

counterproductive," said Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Strasbourg-based Council.

"Deliberate destruction of the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, indiscriminate retaliation affecting civilians, and military operations against non-military installations in neighboring Lebanon are unlikely to help the liberation of Corporal Gilad Shalit and his colleagues or deter future terrorist actions against Israel," he said.

Davis said these methods will further destabilize the situation in the region and undermine the already fragile prospects for a lasting peaceful political solution.

Switzerland as recently as days ago said Israel's attacks on civilians are a violation of international humanitarian law, which means a violation of the Geneva Convention. The UN civil rights committee has voted to start an investigation into Israel's actions.