Although it might be appropriate to take action in the situation between Israel and some of its neighbours, your Editorial of Aug 12 (p 553)1 is more political than medical and woefully slanted against Israel.

For thinking people, war is abhorrent, particularly for physicians. Innocent Lebanese have suffered and Lebanese infra structure has been damaged. Innocent Israelis have also suffered, as have Israeli buildings, railways, and other structures. It is either naive or illintentioned, however, to equate the actions of terrorism with those of the Israel Defense Forces.

What is being prepared against Israel is extinction, and what Hizbollah has been hurling against it are terrifying weapons. These weapons have no business being on a border outside the control of the Lebanese government. That government should have stopped the traffic of weapons and established its rule over southern Lebanon. If it was prevented from doing so, it should have protested.

I strongly disagree with The Lancet that Hizbollah cannot be dislodged and that Israel is not in danger. Hizbollah can be dislodged and the threat against Israel is real and powerful. I do agree, however, that the true solution does not lie in weapons. The solution will come when Muslim countries and Israel realise that citizens can be of any religion or of no religion whatsoever, and that hatred is not a state policy, but a regrettable byproduct of a terrible situation.

By all means, send money and help to Lebanon. Let the Lebanese have a truly independent government in which no one will ask the religion of a holder of office and where Lebanese will be allowed to establish friendly ties with Israel. There should also be help for the families of those killed or damaged by rockets and for children who grow up among underground bunkers.

Finally, let this very respected journal live up to its traditions of fairness and objective analysis.

The only conflict of interest that I have is that I know history and am a Jew. The views expressed in this letter are the author’s own and not necessarily those of the Central University of Venezuela.

Mauricio Goihman-Yahr
mgoihman@cantv.net
Vargas School of Medicine, Central University of
Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela

1 The Lancet. It is time for urgent action on the Lebanese health crisis. Lancet 2006; 368: 553.