While so many international conflicts have countries declaring clear partisanships, the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict seems to be dwelling in an eternal gray area. Numerous international humanitarian and relief organizations are still straddling the line- with the chief concern being relief for one and all.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, expressed grave concern for the growing number of casualties in Israel, Lebanon, and surrounding areas in a released statement. She called for unrestricted and secure passage for all humanitarian assistance.http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/International_bodies_express_concern_over_Israel-Hezbollah_conflict
The Red Cross' efforts to export necessary medical assistance is severely limited due to ongoing hostilities. A reminder was issued regarding the obligation to distinguish between civillians and military targets in such battle zones. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch additionally released similar statements.
Rather than physical relief, this battleground area of Israel, Lebanon, and surrounding territories are recieving "urgent requests" and "issuing of statements". Regardless of personal belief or partisanship, United States aid vehicles are keeping their physical distance from all related territories. The greatest aid is coming from the actual citizens (Palestinians and Israelis) as well as sympathizers (people all over the world who identify with the Palestinian cause and Hezbollah members vs. the Israeli, and furthermore Jewish, cause). This may have something to do with the fact that while 25% of Americans think the Government should side with Israel, and 1% side with the Hezbollah, a whopping 74% think that the US should stay neutral regarding the conflict.
Because there are religious undertones in the ongoing fight (the battle for Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip), many want to steer clear of become involved in the conflict. The United States Government has been on both sides of the fight. Since 2006, the US has commited over $371 million in security assistance, including Humvees, cargo trucks, armor, helicopter repair parts, assault rifles, etc, to Lebanon. http://www.pulitzercenter.org/openitem.cfm?id=1013
US assistance to Lebanon has also skyrocketed from $41 million to $520 million in overall military aid in 2007. http://www.pulitzercenter.org/openitem.cfm?id=1013
Israel is the United State's closest ally in the Middle East and receives roughly $3 billion per year in military aid. This rise in military aid is balanced out by a depletion of economic aid. While Israel is one of the top recipients of U.S. forgeign aid, it is also in competition with all of those who consider themselves part of an area formerly known as "Palestine" (i.e. Israel is competing for aid against a large portion of the Middle East- Lebanon, Syria, Jordan...and all of its sympathizers.)
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On a personal note, it should be noted that the United States provides financial assistance to securing Israeli Government and economy- which happens to be the only Democracy in the middle east.
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