Almost a week into serious allegations made by the Lebanese President against Israel’s use of illegal weapons, the British media are continuing to remain reticent in their news coverage.

On Sunday, 16th July, the Lebanese Government accused Israel of using severely damaging weapons, banned under international Law in their disproportionate military offensive against Lebanon.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, the Information Minister Ghaza Iridi said, “We are facing a real annihilation carried out by Israel.

"Israel is using internationally prohibited weapons against civilians".

The weapons in question are phosphorus incendiary bombs and implosion bombs, which suck up the air and collapse buildings. The bombs are made out of spontaneously flammable chemicals used for battlefield illumination. Any use of incendiary weapons is prohibited for attacking civilians as contact with particles causes burning of skin and flesh.

Lahoud said Israeli forces have fired "phosphorus incendiary bombs, which are a blatant violation of international laws,..against Lebanese civilians."

He called on the United Nations to help "deter Israel from using destructive weapons which violate human rights and the United Nations charter."

Similar allegations made by Italian state TV, RAI against the US military for using white phosphorus bombs against civilians in the Iraqi city of Falluja were found to be true. The American military admitted to using the “illegal” arms in November 2005, strongly denying their illegality by stating that Washington was not a signatory of an international treaty restricting the use of white phosphorus devices.

Although it maybe strongly apparent, that one rule applies for the US Military and another for the rest of the world, if Israel is found to be using phosphorous arsenal then under International Law the Israeli Military should be trialled for war crimes.

In an interview with Agence France Presse Military sources said, that Israel had used such weapons.

Yet whilst the severe allegations have been broadcast across the International and Arab World, they have received no coverage at all in the British Media. The British Press have chosen to remain silent about the serious accusations made against Israel and through their silence, illuminated their political agendas.

Speaking to a neutral media representative about his opinions as to why the allegations have been unreported, he said

“The lack of media coverage is perplexing, perhaps the reason lies in “newsworthiness” and allegations of this nature are not worth reporting. “

“However I think that this is unlikely rather I can only say that if the British media is as balanced as it suggests then if similar allegations are made against the Hezbollah “guerrillas” then we should also expect the story to receive no news space.”

Nearly a week on, the lack of coverage speaks for itself.

---