As the Israel-Lebanon conflict reaches alarming proportions, the heat can be felt as far as the Bangla blogosphere. While the bloggers here are unanimous in their denouncement of the escalating violence in the Levant, they are however, divided in their opinions about who should be held responsible for the current turn of events.

Suman feels that Israel is clearly the aggressor and holds the US responsible for not exerting pressure on Israel to back out of Lebanon.

On the other hand, there are bloggers who see Israel as a nation whose existence is constantly threatened by its Arab neighbors. Apbak revisits the pages of history and talks about how the dream of Israel, the ‘promised land’ was born. According to his views, when a nation is threatened from various sides by its neighbors it cannot be entirely blamed for its violent response to any provocation or threat.

Amar Toronto feels that the responsibility for the current escalation lies with the Hezbollah and partially with the Lebanese government who failed to comply with an UN resolution of disarming the group. As the debate continues, Tirondaj takes the conversation to a broader canvas. He talks about the link between violence across the globe and International politics and prays for solutions that can lead to peace.

Violence in any form ultimately preys on the innocent. Rezwan's beautiful translation of a poem by Leila Farjami talks of the atrocities of war and its claim on innocent lives.

Kill the innocent: They maybe terrorists.

don't be vulnerable,
don't be generous,
don't be sympathetic,
don't be compassionate,
don't give a damn!,
You may upset your narcissism

And believe in

“WAR IS PEACE,
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”

~by Leila Farjami