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Resolving Lebanon

You would think the outcome of such brainstorming would address the issues at the heart of this conflict and concerns of affected parties, especially the people of Lebanon who have been at the receiving end in this conflict.

Unfortunately, however, the UN draft resolution is far from balanced and falls far short of expectations of the people of Lebanon and the Middle East. The proposed resolution rightly asks both Hezbollah and Israel to stop all attacks on Israel and Lebanon respectively. Now here lies the catch. While the draft resolution recognises Israel’s right to defend itself, it doesn’t offer any such right to the other side in the case of continuing Israeli attacks.

No wonder Lebanon feels betrayed by the UN and the international community. The Lebanese cabinet has rejected the draft resolution as inadequate and one-sided. On the other hand, Israel, which has not surprisingly expressed ‘satisfaction’ over the draft, refuses to stop its attacks —resolution or no resolution —until the proposed international peace force arrives in Lebanon.

And we are back to square one. As we write this, there are reports of Hezbollah rockets killing nine Israeli army reservists and a civilian. And there is sure to be a major Israeli backlash —perhaps within hours.

So under the present circumstances, the proposed resolution is the only hope to end this terrible war.

Lebanon, instead of rejecting the draft, should continue to work with the UN, US and other big players persuading them to revise the draft incorporating Lebanon’s legitimate demands and concerns. Since this is not a final resolution, the possibility of restructuring cannot be completely ruled out.

Most independent observers agree with the Lebanese government’s reasonable view that ceasefire and immediate ceasefire must come before all other issues of Lebanon-Israel conflict are debated. This is a position that has been widely acknowledged and supported by the international community, as well.

The US and other movers and shakers of the UN must listen to this vox populi. Here is an opportunity for the US leadership to redeem itself in the eyes of the people of the Middle East and the world community.

For America’s handling of the Lebanon crisis not only has its traditional ‘friends and allies’ in the Middle East and Muslim world troubled, but most Americans are unhappy with this administration’s refusal to push for a ceasefire, according to an opinion poll this weekend. But global opinion matters little to an administration that has been abducted by the powerful Christian neo-cons and the Lobby.