HEZBOLLAH VS. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. Hezbollah is trying to silence Human Rights Watch's report condemning Hezbollahs attack on civilians during the war last year--but HRW is not taking this lying down. Truth be told, it's hard to imagine Hezbollah reacting in any other way,especially when HRW arranged a press conference in Lebanon itself.

From the HRW website:

Lebanon/Israel: Hezbollah Smear Campaign Won't Silence Report

Human Rights Watch today canceled a news conference planned for Thursday, August 30, 2007 in Beirut, citing reports by Hezbollah-controlled media about planned demonstrations to prevent the scheduled event at the Crowne Plaza hotel, and the hotel’s decision to disallow the news conference.

Human Rights Watch said that Hezbollah’s justifications for its attacks on Israeli towns – as a response to indiscriminate Israeli fire into southern Lebanon and to draw Israel into a ground war – had no legal basis under the laws of war.

The 128-page report, “Civilians under Assault: Hezbollah’s Rocket Attacks on Israel in the 2006 War,” presents more than 20 case studies based on extensive field research in northern Israel into rocket attacks that killed or injured civilians in Jewish, Arab and mixed villages, towns and cities. It also draws evidence of Hezbollah’s intent behind these rocket attacks from more than 100 Hezbollah communiques and declarations.

There is also a summary of the HRW report, as well as a media presentation of the effects and casualties of the Hezbollah rocket attack on Israel.

The response by Hizbollah is predictable:

Hezbollah spokesman Hussein Rahal said Human Rights Watch should start by criticising Israel.

"We were the victims during this war and people have a right to defend themselves," he told AFP. "We did not target civilians but Israel on the other hand did target the civilian population in Lebanon."

It's one thing for Hezbollah to pick a fight with Israel--this time, Hezbollah may be up against a tougher adversary.

Technorati Tag: Hezbollah and HRW and Human Rights Watch.