Do Not Ask the Lebanese Government For a Solution, Ask The International Community
Elza S. Maalouf
I just listened to Prime Minister Seniora on "Face the Nation" pleading for cease-fire and pleading to American mothers to look into their hearts and feel for the babies that were killed in Kana yesterday. A one day old baby took his last breath before he gets a chance to hug his mother...
When asked if he can pressure Hezbollah into a cease fire, the Prime Minister avoided answering the question directly.
PM Seniora is a wise man who knows that Lebanon needs to keep its unity and avoid a civil war. Any accusation addressed to Hezbollah by any Lebanese party will be the fuel that sparks a new bloody civil war that Lebanon cannot afford. Especially that innocent Lebanese civilians are dying and children are been deprived of a future.
The answer does not lie with PM Seniora's government, a fledgeling government who negotiated for Hezbollah's disarmement, for more than 6 months, to no avial. Lebanon was weakened since 1970s by the PLO, who formed a state inside a State; by The Syrians who occupied Lebanon, milked it dry and left it in 2005 while vowing for revenge. Lebanon is weakened now by lack of support of the international community and the absence of pressure on Syria in which hands lie the fate of Lebanon.
The US refuse to negotiate directly with Syria and gives Israel more time to destroy and kill with no forseen results. Israel is loosing grounds on humanitarian bases, Hezbollah is gaining popularity and Syria is laughing its way to the negotiation table. Meanwhile, Lebanon is bleading innocent blood. Isarel is loosing. The US is brain dead, and Syria seems to be the winner here.
Wake up America! You are a superpower who forgot the basic rules of being a superpower...Rules such as bringing all parties to the table and taking a bold stand to do the following:
When asked if he can pressure Hezbollah into a cease fire, the Prime Minister avoided answering the question directly.
PM Seniora is a wise man who knows that Lebanon needs to keep its unity and avoid a civil war. Any accusation addressed to Hezbollah by any Lebanese party will be the fuel that sparks a new bloody civil war that Lebanon cannot afford. Especially that innocent Lebanese civilians are dying and children are been deprived of a future.
The answer does not lie with PM Seniora's government, a fledgeling government who negotiated for Hezbollah's disarmement, for more than 6 months, to no avial. Lebanon was weakened since 1970s by the PLO, who formed a state inside a State; by The Syrians who occupied Lebanon, milked it dry and left it in 2005 while vowing for revenge. Lebanon is weakened now by lack of support of the international community and the absence of pressure on Syria in which hands lie the fate of Lebanon.
The US refuse to negotiate directly with Syria and gives Israel more time to destroy and kill with no forseen results. Israel is loosing grounds on humanitarian bases, Hezbollah is gaining popularity and Syria is laughing its way to the negotiation table. Meanwhile, Lebanon is bleading innocent blood. Isarel is loosing. The US is brain dead, and Syria seems to be the winner here.
Wake up America! You are a superpower who forgot the basic rules of being a superpower...Rules such as bringing all parties to the table and taking a bold stand to do the following:
- create a two-state solution in Israel/Palestine with 1967 borders
- acknowleging Syria's role in the region and asking for Behavior change vs. Regime change
- Empowering the Lebanese Government and its rule over the whole country
- Negotiating directly with Iran the Godfather of Hezbollah
Until the US and Europe play such a comprehensive role, the Middle East will suffer and make the rest of the world suffer.
2 Comments:
Elza, I have a question: While I agree that a large part of the solution depends on USA and the west pressure and actions, I think that this help will fail without a minimal co-operation and action taken by Lebanon. Seniora doesn't even state that Hezbollah’s autonomy and independence over the state of Lebanon, even in attacking Israel anytime they want, is problematic. I can see the situation is delicate, and it is clear Seniora doesn't want a civilian war, if he will not even say the current situation can not continue, then how will it change? Emil Lahud, the president, said today that Hezbollah won the war so nobody can dictate terms to Lebanon. I think that if Lebanon government won't use this opportunity to disallow or at least de-legitimize and independent military action by the Hezbollah, it will be hard to bring forward a new stable situation. What do you think?
Oren, the assumption that Seniora's government can take a firm stand or at least be vocal about the internal struggles in Lebanon is out of the question at this point. Especially that in order to take a stand a government has to be an independent one.
Unlike Israel who had a chance over the last 50+ years to cultivate an independent, economically vibrant state with the support of its citizens, the US and part of the international community. Lebanon, with its multi-religious make up, has been a fertile ground for different countries to fight their interests on Lebanese soil and through different Lebanese factions. Starting with the PLO who were supported by other Arab countries, and were able to build a state-inside-a state and gain the support of Lebanese Sunni and Druze. Then the Syrians 'occupied' Lebanon as 'peacekeepers' and attracted power thirsty Lebanese. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and tried to convince factions of the Maronite militias to divide Lebanon.
The 2005 Syrian's withdrawal from Lebanon, was just a strategic withdrawal, since Syria still influences the presidency of Lebanon and many parties in the parliament and the government. When Seniora speaks, he is well aware that he is not speaking in the name of the whole government, and cannot risk internal confrontation which can take Lebanon to pre-constitutional era.
As for Lahoud...hmmm, what can I say. A puppet appointed by Syria in an act defying the essence of the Lebanese constitution. He has his dirty hands in corrupt deals that hurt every Lebanese citizen.
Hezbollah, is not a Lebanese problem. It is a symptom of the mindsets in the Arab countries and Iran and the lack of semblance of structure, healthy Nationalistic systems and the rule of law.
Lebanon is still in early transition state and without the total support of the superpowers Lebanon is at risk of partition, a shameful state to happen, since Lebanese from all religions co-existed peacefully for decades and had no enmity towards other’s religious affiliation. At least that’s how my generation was raised.
Imagine if Israel in 1947 did not have the support of the British and later of the US, how much Israel could have done to continue the struggle?
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