Hezbollah’s Contribution To Peace
Two and a half weeks into the war between Israel and Hezbollah, it has become increasingly clear that the time frame within which Israel had hoped to achieve its strategic goals in southern Lebanon has run its course without the expected results. Time is definitely against Israeli plans.
Israel is now faced with the prospect of having to bow to international pressure for a cease-fire before achieving its goal of destroying or at least seriously ‘degrading’ Hezbollah. That prospect is now dividing Israel’s leadership and driving a wedge between the military and the civil administration.
While the US and UK are running after the events in a desperate attempt to catch up, it has become obvious that their approach so far has only served to outrage Arab sentiment and to project an image of partiality towards Israel. It may in fact be too late for these two leaders, Bush and Blair, to regain credibility in the region, thus making them irrelevant to the whole peace process in the Middle East.
As well, there may be further consequences in Iraq where both the government and the majority of the population are Shiite. If the Israeli offensive continues, Shiites in Iraq may join the insurgency in the south and attack British forces.
Israel is acutely aware that any cease-fire would be seen across the Middle East as a clear victory for Hezbolah. Indeed it would be a clear victory, since it has stood fast against the Israeli onslaught. It is also clear that Israel must finally negotiate a peace with Lebanon that will take into consideration that country’s legitimate claims.
Hezbollah has served its purpose for Lebanon, Syria and Iran. It has brought Israel to the brink of international isolation, it has unified Arabs across the middle east, it has successfully waged a war against Israel and continues to force it into an untenable position, and it has served to bolster Iranian influence in the region.
When this war is over, when negotiations are underway, and when Israel has finally decided to take Arab claims seriously and not merely hope to defer all issues in hope that they will just be forgotten, then the value of Hezbollah’s contribution to peace will be realized and stand out clearly.
The views expressed on this blog are the opinion of the author and should not be taken as fact.