I find the current frustration incredibly frustrating, partly because of the never-ending despair of the situation in Palestine, but also because of a fundamental ambivalence I have about the policies pursued by Islamist groups in the region. Hizbullah, like Hamas, was born as a resistance organization. It successfully fought a war of attrition against the Israeli occupation, and caused them to eventually move out. For this, it has been cheered throughout the region because it appeared to have struck a blow for an Arab cause after a seemingly never-ending string of defeats. It helped restore some dignity to what, from an Arab perspective, is a humiliating situation. And it put a lot of people like me (nominally Sunni secularists) in a position of admiring a fundamentalist Shia group.
My first instinct after I saw this morning that Hizbullah had conducted a raid on Israel’s northern border was to think, shit, the Israelis are going to bomb Lebanon like they’re bombing Gaza. And, sure enough, the bombing started. My reaction was anger at Hizbullah for provoking Israel to do this — which clearly it has wanted to do for a while — and dragging the rest of Lebanon into a mess. I don’t really see the point of the raid beyond a symbolic gesture of support for the Palestinians — which, fair enough, considering the icy silence or hypocritical posturing of most Arab governments, is a welcome change. I don’t think this will either distract Israel from Gaza (it’s quite capable of waging war on two fronts) nor do I think it’s a clever form of asymmetric warfare. I doubt Israel will release any prisoners because of it.
Maybe I’m wrong. Israel doesn’t even need excuses anymore to do what it wants. Maybe signs of resistance will make it think twice about its policy. Yet, in the current situation of David vs. Goliath, I don’t think that symbolic operations accomplish much beyond allow Israel to kill more people. The lack of balance of power in the region and the refusal of Western states, especially the US, to moderate Israel’s winner-takes-all attitude makes me think that when I’m 80 (if I live that long!) this region will still be in the same mess. In the meantime, a steady trickle of people will die. It’s a depressing thought.
A very thoughtful post. I empathize with your feelings of ambivalence towards what Hezbollah (and Hamas) are doing. I am more optomistic than you perhaps, as to what can be accomplished. I believe that the Israelis will offer a prisoner exchange, sooner or later. As well, when a society hardens to the degree that Israeli society has, then it also becomes very brittle. Sooner or later Israelis will realize that they will never live in peace as long as they continue to act in the way that they do towards those around them. There are unsettled accounts in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. They must settle, if they want to enjoy peace.
I invite you to visit my blogs at http://www.yioni.com/politics.html and http://www.yioni.com/counter-spin.html
Chris
It may be that Hizbullah believes Israel will eventually back down. It may also be that Syria is looking to play the conflict to get back into Lebanon, and Hizbullah is going along with them.
” I don’t really see the point of the raid beyond a symbolic gesture of support for the Palestinians — which, fair enough, considering the icy silence or hypocritical posturing of most Arab governments, is a welcome change.”
Yes yes, very welcome change..support the Palestinians and mess up Lebanon.Well, .that’s how it always was right?..Horraaay for Hezbollah. (me bowing down to a Nasrallah statue)
I think rather than trade prisoners, Israel is on the verge of deciding this experiment in giving back land is finished and reoccupy. The militants might have overplayed their hand and it is going to bring serious suffering to the innocent. Maybe this is what the militants want after all. Perhaps they feel that without constant turmoil and a sense of struggle, this “revolution” turned way-of-life will lose steam.
Too bad Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr wasn’t Palestinian. The Palestinians would have had their land back a long time ago without a shot fired.
Am I the only one posting here who remembers that Shi’ites in South Lebanon met the invading israeli army in 1982 with flowers and candy? They really did. The Palestinians had been behaving very, very badly in South Lebanon, especially to the Shi’ites of the deep South, so when Israel invaded, the local Shi’ites at first believed the Israelis were going to “solve their Palestinian problem.” But the Israelis were obsessed on their fantasy of what Christian Lebanese are all about and they looked right past the Shi’ites. Hizbollah was born in the aftermath.
Personally I am disgusted by Hizbollah’s maneuver. Of course Israel over-reacted and commits crimes, kills civilians – that’s what they do. Why provoke them? Hizbollah just doesn’t care about what happens to Lebanon, or to Lebanese civilians.
To the poster calling for a Palestinian MLK Jr. – google Palestinian non-violence. al-Muhajabba has been collecting articles and links. There are non-violent actions ongoing in the West Bank especially, protesting the wall. I even did a post on the subject at my blog some time ago.
But I understand why you took down the original post. I agreed with you but at this point it’s inappropriate to have such a post up when so many are dead.
God, let it die down. Let it die down, please.
I am Israeli and I wish to give you our POV.
What we see is that each time we make concessions, and are generous to the Arabes, they see it as “weakness”, and instead of behaving like normal human beings and trying to reach peace, they increase the violence.
We left Gaza and since them have been aggressed by the Palestinians. They did not even try to build a state, to prove that they can be good neighbours and that we should give them more land.
We left Lebanon and were aggressed withour any reason by Hezbollah. This is an act of war, and of coure, as usual, the Arabes will lose and cry.
Thanks to all for the great comments.
I definitely agree, Leila, that some Palestinians really played the most cynical game in Lebanon. But the southern Lebanese reaction to the Israeli invasion wasn’t unanimous, while some of the population was welcoming Hizbullah did not grow out of nothing. It has support down there, and many Southern Lebanese (Shia or otherwise) suffered greatly from the Israeli occupation and the Israel-backed militias.
Lebanon is unfortunate in that it always bears the brunt of the ambitions of the countries around it. I think Hizbullah’s actions will probably have a deep impact on the current process of integration of Lebanese politics and the prospect of either disarming it or making it a part of the national army.
Benjamin, I think the Israeli elites have been very good at using “appeasement” analogies about Barak’s disengagement from Southern Lebanon, but they don’t hold. Ending the occupation of southern Lebanon (or elsewhere) is not a “concession” or “peace overture,” it’s a return to the way things should be. Arabs have in recent years, in the Beirut declaration, made comprehensive peace offers. But they mean a return to the 67 lines, an end to the occupation of the Golan, and a decent solution to the Jerusalem problem. Sharon rejected this — in fact he ignored it completely, even though Saudi Arabia and others were offering normalization! Same thing goes for Gaza. It’s not really separate from the West Bank in the Palestinian mind, so yes the occupation is seen to continue. That’s why Oslo failed: it promised one thing but delivered completely another. You can’t have half-measures.
Scott, Palestine has had its MLKs, but most of them have either been shot or deported by Israel, while it encourages and supports groups like Hamas, because having an opponent like Hamas “justifies” military force. Israel appears to understand the power of nonviolent resistance by an opponent, which is why it goes to great lengths to prevent it from happening in a widespread and systematic fashion, like Gandhi’s movement in India or the US civil rights movement.
People, our problem as Arabs is what I have just read in this discussion back and forth. We are trapped into the “controversy” of Hizbullah’s actions, allow ourselves to be too narrow-minded, too self-absorbed, too self-centered. Face the facts, Lebanon will always be the pawn in the hands of brokers of this region, whoever it may be. The way I see it, given that I’m looking at this from what’s going on in both the region and worldwide, is that at the moment, I have one of two choices, blabber about how this is “not the time for a Hizbullah stunt”, “Lebanon has enough on its hands”, or blabber about “those U.S. Israeli collaborators crticising the only nationalist movement an Arab can be proud of that is taking place in these dark times.” Lebanon is already in mayhem, already divided, so those complaining that Hizbullah’s move will divide it more let them reflect on what’s been going on internally these past months and think again. We’re already f*ed, whether Hizbullah, or anyone else for that matter, does anything. SO the scenario to think of is the following: would you like to be f*ed and have your back to the wall, thinking let me mind my own business and live as long as possible without problems, regardless of how many people related to me are being killed daily, or be f*ed and have a group make a stir, whether this stir will do anything or not doesn’t matter, we’re f*ed anyway. Wake up everyone.
It appears that Israel is using the same tactics it has used against the Palestinians in Gaza, but this time against a sovereign state: attacking civilian infrastructure, killing dozens of civilians and children, and bombing the airport during peak tourist season which will have a significant detrimental effect on the entire Lebanese economy considering that tourism, especially in August, is one of the primary economic activities of the country. But of course, as GW Bush reminded, us, Israel has a right to “defend” itself. I’m not clear on how such reasoning applies when a militia attacks military targets and the response is to kill civilians and strike the capital…? It seems to me like if the Minute Men militia in the southern United States attacked Mexican border gaurds and Mexico retaliated by bombing LAX (Los Angeles Intl Airport).
Issandr, you are mistaken. The withdrawals of Israel are pure concessions out of good faith in peace. The Arabs attacked us to annihilate us and lost. They have to pay the price. And each aggression from the Arabs will only make the price heavier.
They will never be any return to the 67 boarders, because this is our land, first, and because we know now that withdrawals lead only to more aggression from the Arab extremists.
You attack us, you pay the price, don’t complain.
CCR has a point…to read that Israel had bombed the Beirut airport and declared it wanted southern Beiruti neighbourhoods evacuated because they harboured Hezbollah sympathizers really brought out how incredibly dismissive Israel has got to be in its dealings with anyone else because of its Divine Right to do anything in the name of defending itself.
Without in the least bit downplaying Hezbollah’s positive achievements in the past, I don’t see how this recent raid could ever have ended well for them and for the Palestinians.
Given the state that Israel is in right now, how could Hezbollah’s reactions be interpreted as anything but a provocation? It is a tragedy what is happening to Lebanon, no doubt. But Hezbollah deserves the enmity of anyone who is committed to the Arab cause. They are proving themselves radical nihilists. The way they treat the populations under their control, their contempt for the lives of their own. and this latest recklesness.
I don’t see the argument really being the ‘controversy’ of Hizbullah’s actions as much as its effectiveness. Whether what Hizbullah did is illegal under international law is irrelevant when the neighbor is Israel, a serial offender when it comes to internationally which routinely carries out sonic booms over Beirut and elsewhere and carries out all kinds of other illegal things (and let’s not get started on palestine!)
One the one hand, I’m sympathetic with resistance and solidarity as Hossam sees it. In a way, considering what’s going on in Beirut today one feels it should be escalated. But on the other I felt it could have been avoided. It’s a tough call.
Joe,
If Palestine had any MLKs in its midst we wouldn’t be having this conversation today. Unfortunately, men like this don’t come along often. MLK Jr fought his battle in the belly of the beast against an intelligence apparatus, military power, and institution of hate superior to any adversary Palestinians will ever face.
You might believe that the West and Israel have no interest in seeing an MLK in Palestine. Rest assured there are puppet-masters in Damascus and Teheran who have no interest in seeing it either.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/Ihaveadream.htm
Scott, I certainly agree that Arab and non-Arab nations alike aren’t interested in seeing a nonviolent resistance movement in Palestine. I would say other regimes like Mubarak and al-Assad are particularly opposed, because it would give domestic movements too many ideas. Look at how much harder Mubarak is cracking down on Kifaya-type activities and the Ikhwan now that the election is over and the spotlight is off.
I have no doubt there are potential MLKs in Palestine, but the situation on the ground there, culturally, militarily, etc, is very different. I think building a movement there of that sort would take time that a leader wouldn’t really be allowed by Israel.
http://www.pnn.ps/english/archive2004/apr/week4/250404/mubarak25apr.htm
“There is a misconception amongst Palestinians of what nonviolence is. Nonviolence is not the savior of the Palestinians, nor will it end the occupation. That is not how it is intended. Nonviolence is a weapon people use to accomplish several things. The first of those is empowerment. People under occupation have the right to do things for themselves, even in a bad situation. The second thing nonviolence does is it takes the fear away from the people. When you feel strong about yourself, feel yourself to be a person of dignity and respect, you don’t need to be afraid. The third point about nonviolence is that while it is an individual commitment to a higher ground, if you feel stronger within yourself you can associate more strongly with others. You don’t use nonviolence to please Israel or the US or others. You have to believe yourself that you yourself don’t have the right to kill any person, even if they want to kill you. Some people use it from a personal or religious point of view. Others think of it as a political strategy, and others still as a community to make a community better. But at least it will allow the person not just to talk, but to act. Acting becomes a daily resistance to evil, which is the occupation. If they refuse to act in a nonviolent way, it is better to be violent than to do nothing.”
My dear brothers :
I am sitting here in Israel – working night-shift and think to myself “who the hell tought you history?”.
I might be called so serve in Lebanon – to leave my girlfriend, job and in the middle of my engeneering-degree.
Believe my – i (like all Israelis) have better things to do in life than go and “occupie” (like you call it) other countries.
A small history lesson :
The British goverment who ruled the land of Israel – gave half to the Jews and half to the Arabs.
After that – seven Arab nations tried to eliminate the Israelis – lost the war and lost the borders of 1948 (again this land was British land).
In 1967 the arabs has started again a war – where they have lost the Golan heights, Gaza and the west bank(dint cry for losing a war you have started). The West bank was under Jordenian occupation and Jorden never claimed it back.
Israel demanded Egypt to take away Gaza and the Egyptians did not agree!!! (is it still Israeli occupation?);
Up until 1982 there was a civil war in Lebanon between the Muslims and the Christians and Israel was always under attacks by the P.L.O – what led to the occupation in Souther Lebanon.
Under stand this my brothers : Israel dont want war!!!!!
You are more than welcome to visit Israel and see that it is more than a peaceful place.
The extreme leaders of the Muslim wolrd are trying to Unit you all agains Israel so you will continue backing them up!!!
Arafats wife -Suha is one of the richest person in the wolrd (not from software companies) but from the money that Israel and the UN gave to the Palestinian people and went streight into her bank account in france – where she lives now.
define again the word “Occupation” and try and make a difference between occopation and security.
Hope we will sometimes meet in positives situations, have a drink and laugh about this sad situation now.
take care brothers – i still care about you all and want peace –
David – Jerusalem.
Israel is attacking civilian targets and infrastructure in both Lebanon and Gaza – with the blessing of the United States.
The Israeli army, air force, and navy continue to target civilian residences, airports, electricity grids, roads, bridges, highways, and petroleum depots in Lebanon and Palestine.
Yet when Hamas & Hezbollah target the Israeli military – in completely legitimate operations – they are branded as terrorists.
Israeli is inflicting state terrorism & collective punishment on both Palestinian and Lebanese civilians with complete immunity from international law.
Civilians are to be protected from belligerent acts and from military occupation – under the Fourth Hague Convention on “Laws and Customs of War on Land,” and the Fourth Geneva Convention “relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War”
However, Israel and the US are the only two powers in the world which are allowed to violate the UN Charter and international law.
Israel illegally occupies the West Bank, Golan Heights, and Shebaa Farms, while the US illegally occupies Iraq.
Why should Arabs abide by international law when the Zionists violate it each day? – while the US vetoes any condemnation of Israel’s illegal occupations and invasions in the UN security council.
There is no hope for justice from either the UN security council or from the Arab League.
There is only hope in the resistance to Israel’s illegal occupations and aggressions.
Greetings from Tel Aviv to Issandr,
I read with interest that you first wanted to make a posting that was very critical of the Hizbullah tactic. And then you decided to drop it — without in any way construing this as self-censorship, I wonder to what extent you are free to express your opinion on this medium anymore, except for the usual yet sophisticated Israel bashing.
Olivier
Dear Olivier,
I would have liked to believe that you think better of me after all the years we’ve known each other. My “Israel-bashing” is not reflexive or automatic, it’s a reflection of the reality on the ground of continued occupation, flagrant human rights abuses, total bad faith and disproportionality in its actions. The use of collective punishment as a tactic is something that is condemned by the Geneva Conventions, after all, not just by people who don’t like Israel.
With regards to my “self-censorship,” my original post does not differ in content in its criticism of Hizbullah’s actions, it differs in tone. The original might have given the impression that I put the bulk of the blame for what is happening in Lebanon to Hizbullah, when Israel is doing the bombing. But this post expresses the same frustration with Hizbullah’s sense of timing and purpose.
Do you remember at university, when we were members of an Arab-Jewish society? Things looked a lot more hopeful back then. But now we know Oslo was a sham. My biggest desire now is just for these wars to end, everyone to agree on a solution not to dissimilar from the internationally endorsed one along the 1967 lines, with some kind of shared sovereignty over Jerusalem, and then for everyone to leave each other alone. I would much rather give my time to Arab-bashing (indeed, as surely you’ve noticed, that is what this blog mostly does) than waste my time on the fundamentally depressing Arab-Israeli debate.
“Yet when Hamas & Hezbollah target the Israeli military – in completely legitimate operations – they are branded as terrorists.”
I am American and following this story with interest. The above statement I find curious: What in your opinion legitimates the operations of Hamas and Hezbollah? They are acting, by definition, outside any legitimate government authority, are they not?
Or do you just mean to say that they are operating morally in a relative sense with regard to Isreali actions.
I am surprised to see that no one has made a comment about the purported Sunni-Shia’ cooperation occuring between Hezbollah and Hamas while sectarian violence rages in Iraq. This cooperation is a direct challenge to the supposed relligious nature of inter-communal violence between Sunni and Shia’ militias throughout Iraq.