The bullying reaction of Israel in Lebanon in retaliation to a brazen operation by the Hezbollah fighters shows the Hebrew state still thinks in the same old way: flexing its mighty muscles to spread more destruction and casualties to squash resistance.

Enjoying its supremacy of power, Israel believes it will enjoy peace by forcing people to forget their rights, but the results are always against its objectives.

Since its invasion of Lebanon in 1982, which resulted in the formation of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance (Moqawama) that later became Hezbollah, Israel has always used force to crush resistance, but it has never helped in the pursuance of peace.

The use of force took the region from one crisis to another without bringing any sustainable solution.

The conclusion from this is that the use of force now is not the way to solve problems: Justice is the right answer.

Following its defeat after the 22-year occupation of Lebanon, Israel undertook indirect negotiations with Hezbollah through German mediators which concluded, in January 2004, in a swap of more than 400 Lebanese and Palestinian hostages with an Israeli hostage and the remains of three Israeli soldiers.

However, Israel failed to close the issue because it refused to release other Lebanese prisoners - a move resulting in this issue arising again after the Hezbollah operation on Wednesday.

As rightly said by the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Shaikh Hassan Nasrallah, Israel will gain nothing from using its firepower to close Beirut airport and Lebanese ports.

Israel, which is involved in another bloody confrontation in Gaza to release a soldier kidnapped by Hamas, achieved little from its three-week operation other than killing more than 70 Palestinians and injuring 250.

The Hebrew state can kill more Lebanese and cause further destruction to Lebanon, but it will not secure a safe release of its men in Lebanon or Gaza. Therefore, it is obvious the vicious circle of violence will continue unabated.

Israel must think differently from perpetually resorting to violence to solve its problems. It should learn lessons from its confrontations in the past.

However, Israel must adopt a more different tone with its neighbours.

With the US and the European Union supporting Israel's barbaric acts against Lebanon and Palestinians, it will not help achieve an end to the problems of the region.

The US and the EU should tell the Israeli government that the only solution to its growing problems is very simple: Stop the use of force and think of restoring peace based on equality with neighbours.

More blood and destruction cannot help the Israeli state feel safe because the resistance is now using different tactics that will hurt Israel.

Unless justice prevails in the region, no one will be able to live in peace.