Reply #7: Some Israelis Criticizing War in Lebanon [View All]

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Friday August 11, 2006 3:16 AM

By ARTHUR MAX

Associated Press Writer

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - The first cracks in Israeli support for the war in Lebanon emerged Thursday, with leading intellectuals and mainstream politicians criticizing the government's decision to send more soldiers into Hezbollah territory.

Every Friday for a month, anti-war activists have demonstrated against Israel's retaliation for Hezbollah's July 12 cross-border raid, but they never drew more than a handful of people. Opinion polls showed backing for the war at about 80 percent.

But some peace activists who had remained quiet or even supported the fighting now say it has gone on long enough.

Three of Israel's most successful authors and intellectuals - Amos Oz, David Grossman and A.B. Yehoshua - on Thursday urged Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to focus on diplomatic rather than military initiatives.

``We are at a crossroads between the green light given for continuing military operations and explorations for a political solution,'' Yehoshua said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6007362,00.html