Israel acting in "self defence"

BBC News gave some coverage to the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Palestine. Last night they bombed Beiruit International Airport again, blew up a power station and destroyed roads. They have already destroyed Gaza's only power station and a large portion of their infrastructure leaving Palestinian security forces incapable of complying with Israel's demands that they deal with the militants who kidnapped an Israeli terrorist soldier.

This military offensive isn't going all Israel's way though - Hezobollah militants have fired rockets on Israel's third largest city which is 18 miles inside Israel surprising the Israeli's who weren't aware that they had that kind of weaponry.

The UN is having an emergency debate on the escalating violence in the Middle East, the outcome of which will be a vaguely worded suggestion that perhaps Israel might be doing something wrong which will then be vetoed by the American arms industry government.

Condoleza Rice explained the American position on the situation by saying that Israel should "exercise restraint in this act of self defence".

I wonder what the reaction would have been if the UK had bombed the Republic of Ireland when IRA terrorists attacked British soldiers or if they had bombed Beiruit when Terry Waite was abducted by terrorists there?