Former hostage slams policy

Irish journalist John McCarthy weighs in about British Prime Minister Tony Blair's woeful stance in the conflict in Lebanon. In 1986 McCarthy was kidnapped and held hostage in Lebanon for five years. An excerpt from his commentary "Israel and the Art of Sophistry" today in The Independent in London:

Israel has been occupying Palestinian land, in defiance of UN resolutions, for almost 40 years. Instead of insisting on Israel leaving all Palestinian territories, Mr Blair spoke of the former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's "brave step of disengagement from Gaza" last year. What is brave about giving back something you have stolen, still keeping the rightful owners in a virtual prison? Until the safety and human rights of Palestinians - and of all people in the region - are valued as much and put on an equal footing with those of Israelis, there is no hope for a peaceful settlement.