The difference between Governments and Militia
In 1977 Israel signed a peace contract with the Government of Egypt. The number of casualties in the border between Israel and Egypt was almost ZERO since. Though there were several attacks on Israelies since, including murders in Sinai, they were all dealt with using diplomatic measures. This is because Egypt had authority over its territory.
Same thing happened with Jordan. When a terrorist from Jordan crossed the border, shot and killed Israelies, King Hussein came to Israel and met with the families of the dead. His jesture touched the hearts of all Israelies.
That is why peace is so important. Not only to prevent deaths but also to solve incidents in a civilized matter.
When Hezbollah acts from Lebanon, it seems like the Lebanese government is not responsible for any of their actions and therefore claims it does not deserve any reaction. This is not normal behaviour of a country, and this is one of the root causes of all the latest violence.
Another interesting example is Syria which has a minority ruling the country, headed by Pres. Assad. But Syria is not getting involved directly against Israel because as a state every action of its soldiers has an implication on the entire country. Responsibility. So Syria utilizes Hezbollah to attack Israel while diverting the Israeli response towards Lebanon.
I believe Lebanon should stop this cycle simple because Lebanon is the one that suffers most from this situation.
I see Lebanese soldiers entering the south of Lebanon, and I'm hoping for a better future.
Tags: Peace, War, Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Egypt, Jordan
In 1977 Israel signed a peace contract with the Government of Egypt. The number of casualties in the border between Israel and Egypt was almost ZERO since. Though there were several attacks on Israelies since, including murders in Sinai, they were all dealt with using diplomatic measures. This is because Egypt had authority over its territory.
Same thing happened with Jordan. When a terrorist from Jordan crossed the border, shot and killed Israelies, King Hussein came to Israel and met with the families of the dead. His jesture touched the hearts of all Israelies.
That is why peace is so important. Not only to prevent deaths but also to solve incidents in a civilized matter.
When Hezbollah acts from Lebanon, it seems like the Lebanese government is not responsible for any of their actions and therefore claims it does not deserve any reaction. This is not normal behaviour of a country, and this is one of the root causes of all the latest violence.
Another interesting example is Syria which has a minority ruling the country, headed by Pres. Assad. But Syria is not getting involved directly against Israel because as a state every action of its soldiers has an implication on the entire country. Responsibility. So Syria utilizes Hezbollah to attack Israel while diverting the Israeli response towards Lebanon.
I believe Lebanon should stop this cycle simple because Lebanon is the one that suffers most from this situation.
I see Lebanese soldiers entering the south of Lebanon, and I'm hoping for a better future.
Tags: Peace, War, Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Egypt, Jordan
posted by Eliram at 7:26 PM
5 Comments:
Hi all,
A few facts:
Lebanon's government has declared its support and acknowledgement of the Lebanese resistance led by Hezbollah in the platform it proposed to the parliament for its own admittance. In Lebanon, we don't think that Hezbollah is out of control or that there is a lack of authority from the part of the government. Ofcourse, we have a democracy and some people do share this opinion, but those want to use the lebanese army for the same job instead of changing the job itself... another fact is that the governments in Egypt and Jordan do not represent their people. In Egypt, those who support the peace treaty with Israel are sadly a minority, the same goes for Jordan. In the Arab world now people are talking about Nasrallah like they used to talk about Nasser... This shows a bit the appeal this party has to the masses.
The thing is we should not think in terms of making peace with governments, but with the people. the situation between Egypt and Israel would surely and heavily degenerate in case of a regime change, but if peace was achieved with the people, this danger will not exists....
During the war, even the people who criticized Hezbollah before were feeling that Hezbollah is launching missiles in their names to defend their properties, they became proud of the way its fighters prevented the Israeli army from even reaching the Litani... by the way, I personally feel neutral toward this party, but i can tell you one thing, its members are very respectful people, they always do good to others, give from their own assests and help a lot. They are extremely respected in the Lebanese society... regardless of politics.
These are just facts that i thought it might be interesting to consider... they support the claim that the problem is between the Lebanese people and Israel, not Israel and Hezbollah, if Hezbollah one day got destroyed, another more powerful and more radical will surge. This trend is clearly visible in the history of the conflict... Hence, saying that Israel's problem is with a terrorist party that wants its destruction is an over-simplification that is a bit ill-based...
Families in South of Lebanon have lots of control over Hezbollah. There is a sort of a social organization where big/important/historical families exert certain powers. They are the ones that can ask Hezbollah to disarm, or to retort... they control the families and the Hezbollah's members are also members of these families at the end of the day... This is why 17000 houses were destroyed in the South. We all know from where Hezbollah launches his missiles, and its not near residential areas... There is a game between the Lebanese people and the Israeli army that is invisible to the Israeli society. We know why our houses were destroyed. When i look at what is left of mine, i feel that this is a punishment for the families for supporting Hezbollah, no more, no less... On the other hand, Hezbollah remains untouchable... 58 fighters dead not 580, that i can confirm.
What do you think of the last breach in the ceasefire... they said that they went all the way to the north and landed to prevent weapons smuggling... but that site is 75 km from the Syrian borders....
Hey Ayman,
I assure you, the peace between Egypt and Jordan are forced. Their people literally hate Israelis. As if Lebanon really did have peace with Israel, it would be genuine in all its senses, trades, culture exchange, and collaborations in all its senses. Anyways, I am not sure if you know this, but the Lebanese government already lets Nuns and priests to go to Israel for religious reasons, though this is not publicly admitted to the general public, in the fear that some Lebanese would not aprove, and quickly jump tot the conclusion as an act of betrayal.
About the landing 75km to the border, is an excuse the Lebanese people automatically ignored.
About Hizbullah, it is Iran that decides if Hizbullah disarms or not! Many Lebanese politicians are asking if Hizbullah is really doing the best of Lebanons interest or Irans.
When the Christian Lebanese militia 'the Lebanese forces' got its arms from Israel during the Lebanese civil war, after the Taif accord went into action, it demanded that all arms to be handed over to the Lebanese army, and it has, all the arms were given to the Lebanese Army. Now that same Taif accord and UN resolution 1559 has asked for the disarmement of Hizbullah, but Hizbullah says, it is out of the question to think in that direction. I am not sure if Hizbullah has the final say in that. Iran gave the weapons, it decides if it should disarm.
There is a chip on my shoulder though I need to get out. The oil spill! That my freind is Not forgivable! Not today, neither if peace times occur. Think of it as the Hiroshma of Lebanon! yes, shockingly it has affected me to this extent!
I may be speaking from my personal standpoint and opinion on this issue, but nonetheless, this is a real catastrophy. If anything the current of the mediterranean should have gone south. You deserve this spill to drift towards Israel more than anybody else. This is a Shame!
I know you have nothing to do with it.
I am sure you may even disagree with the way your government by the way it handled the war, But Shame on your government to target such a facility 'No Matter what excuse your government gives'.
Correction in first parapraph: The governemnt gives special permission to these religious people. But does not publicly state that it does so, in the fear of calling the priests and nuns as collaborators with Israel.
Dear Yosef,
I wouldn't go as far as accusing nuns and priests as collaborators and stuff.. The relegious territories should be for all people and all religions in my point of view, and that's what i meant by Israel having to share this part of the world with others..
There are two main schools of thoughts for the Shiites. First, is the Irani school based in Komm, and the other is Najaf in Irak. The absolute majority of the shiites in Lebanon are traditionally followers of Najaf, which calls for personal interpretation of the Koran, and does not accept the presence of ayatollahs like Khomeini or Khaminai.. we are not that interested in their opinions, we talk to them as peers... so these families will not have Iran control them at all... this is dangerous to them... I have witnessed myself the power of the Southern Shiite families in arming and controlling both Hezbollah and Amal movements.
The Taif accord came just before the peace process in Oslo began. As you remember, Hezbollah tried to demonstrate against these talks and they were massacred by the Lebanese army (17 dead civilians) after they opened fire probably based on Syrian request... the part about disarmy Hezbollah in the Taif does not exist unless you consider Hezbollah as a lebanese militia whose weapons are authoritarian, and that's far from the facts on the ground, especially in the South...
Concerning 1559, the desicions of the council should be implemented in order... We are waiting for the Israeli side to implement its part...
The thing is not whether Hezbollah should lay down the arms and stop the fighting or not... for sure everybody (almost) in the South of Lebanon as well as in other parts of Lebanon believe that we should work to stop the fight and end the hostilities and establish a security where it wouldn't be necessary to keep these arms.... I personally think that these arms will never go away, they might be hidden, but they will never go away until peace is achieved....
Finally and pragmatically, this war proved that no one can disarm Hezbollah by force, and the Lebanese who feel that they won feel like this because now they can negociate for laying down these arms. I personally have lost 2 cousins, 3 friends, and my own house, and I still feel that these weapons are here for a true cause, and now we should think intelligently to find a way that we can protect the south in exchange for the arms... that's a deal that Hezbollah will surely accept. I guarentee it.
The ams of Hezbollah don't come in free from Iran.. Iran really has much more reputation than it deserves, and she is enjoying it... fact of life is that the weapons are smuggled mainly from the old soviet block... They are smuggled very intelligently, and the blockade on Lebanon is virtually doing little to stop the flow...
Rest asure that if the people of south lebanon decide that hezbollah should lay down the arms, then it will... but that decision is more than a dream during these days, its a fantasy... those who are returning to see there home destroyed are getting very frustrated... some even asked Hezbollah to buy missiles with their compensation money.. many in my village did that...
I also like the way you describe peace with lebanon... but i would like you also to think pragmatically how far this is from now... especially with all the blood and the massacres... Let's keep dialoguing with one another, we are going to destroy each other if this madness continues...
Hi Ayman,
Good to hear from you once again. I read an article today in the Guardian Unlimited (http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1856934,00.html) and this worries me of another civil war. But to rest my conscience; I am well aware of three things:
- The opposing Lebanese to Hizbullah do Not have Arms.
- Even if they did, the same generation that witnessed the civil war, are still the same ones witnessing this war; And so are well aware of the first signs of such a war unfolding and are doing the utmost not to initiate these first signs to manifest.
- Thirdly, Hizbullah has proven to be extreemly strong and resistant, so the opposing Lebanese will certainly not enter into such a massacre.
Since civil war is out of the question for Both sides, and trust me, if Christians have anything to teach from the Civil war, as that it only damages and certainly not benificial. This has to be forwarded to the Sunnies as past experience.
As for laying down Hizbullah arms; I think this is going to take a bit of time for the Israelis handing over Shebaa to the Lebanese, to complicate this matter, Syria has said that it will Not redraw their borders with Lebanon (over the shebaa farms dispute). If the government is wise enough, it'll take Syrias word for it, and leave Shebaa as Syrian territory [the U.N does not recognise Shebaa as being Lebanese, and Syria refuses to confirm that to the U.N]. To add to Syrias mistrust, it has also mentioned it will Not accept U.N forces on it's borders with Lebanon.
Syria is playing a very selfish, and unethical role in this conflict, and is taking advantage of its geographical location to disrupt any peace negotiation with Israel, since it still has the Golan Heights debate.
Another point for Laying down Hizbullah arms, is the exchange of Lebanese/Israeli soldiers. This will happen faster than the dispute of Shebaa. I firmly beleive that Hizbullah would disarm [hand over its' weapons national army] if these two conditions are met.
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