The evidence is now overwhelming that Israel's unprecedented attack on the U.N. base at Qana in southern Lebanon last month was almost certainly done deliberately as the U.N. itself has recently concluded. There is also mounting evidence that the highest officials in Israel have purposefully lied and tried to deceive the U.N. and the world about what happened at Qana as well as other specific attacks on Lebanese civilians.

Consequently JCOME joins the growing chorus for a full United Nations Security Council investigation. Should that investigation or other legal proceedings find Israel culpable then not only should a means be found to force Israel to pay compensation to the victims but sanctions of some appropriate kind should be taken in this case.

It should be remembered that this is not the first time Israel has acted in outrageous ways violating basic standards of international law and conduct and then pursuing a clear pattern of deception and cover-up when unexpected evidence was forthcoming. Indeed, just in recent years the Security Council has condemned Israel for the Dome of the Rock massacre in 1990 and the massive attack on Tunis in 1985. Indeed, in just a quick review of recent history we find numerous instances of unconscionable Israeli actions usually followed by major deceptions on the part of the highest-ranking Israeli political and military leaders. Just a few of these instances are listed below, followed by date and numbers of killed when known.

If the United Nations is to be taken seriously, and if future Israeli lawlessness and deception are to be prevented, it is imperative that the Security Council take firm and decisive action in regard to Qana.

We find ourselves in agreement with an editorial in THE INDEPENDENT newspaper earlier this week headlined - "Qana - The Guilty Must Be Punished". If that is not done in this case then unfortunately THE INDEPENDENT's conclusion -- one which unfortunately results from considerable U.N. inaction in the past -- that "The United Nations is being taken for a fool again, treated as a dupe", will be sadly validated.

We wish we could appeal to the Clinton Administration and the U.S. Congress for honest and forthright action -- especially since American arms, money, and "green lights" are used by the Israelis. But the entire world is well aware that when it comes to Israel the U.S. applies a grossly hypocritical double-standard that seems to have no limits and relates only to domestic American political considerations.

* For additional information and press commentator contact JCOME Chairperson Mark Bruzonsky at (202) 362-5266, Ext 278 - 24-hours daily. Bruzonsky is former Washington representative of the World Jewish Congress, has visited the Middle East region over 150 times, and has published books about the Middle East with Congressional Quarterly, The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at the Smithsonian, and the National Geographic. Bruzonsky provided the live commentary for Canadian National TV during the White House Rabin-Arafat ceremony and now hosts the new TV program, "Mid-East Realities", which shows weekly on all major cable systems in the Washington, D.C. area. He is featured as one of the expert commentators in the new multimedia "CD-BOOK" about the Middle East Region, "Lines in the Sand", published last year.