Israel threatens Lebanon with "unrestricted" military attack

"Gone are the days when wars are fought on remote and hidden battlefields while life in the cities carries on as usual," (Olmert)

Barak Ravid is reporting in today's edition of Haaretz newspaper that Israel would, according to PM Ehud Olmert, "unleash more massive firepower" and to "hit back harder than before," if Lebanon were to become a "terrorist state" under the domination of Hezbollah. Israel "did not use all means to respond then, but if Lebanon becomes a Hezbollah state, then we won't have any restrictions in this regard ... gone are the days when wars are fought on remote and hidden battlefields while life in the cities carries on as usual," he said.

Gone then, as it were, are the relative halcyon days of summer 2006, when Lebanese civilians were not criminally cluster-bombed and life in Beirut and other Lebanese cities, towns and villages carried on "as usual" and Israeli children in Kiryat Shmona sent messages of fraternity and love to Lebanon.?

Israeli children in Kiryat Shmona leaving messages on missiles meant for Lebanon, 2006.