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All of Lebanon Is Not Hezbollah
Opinion
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More in Forward ForumIn a very significant and potentially dangerous move, Israel’s security Cabinet recently decided to reverse its long-standing policy of distinguishing between Hezbollah and the democratically elected Lebanese government. Instead, Israel has threatened to respond to actions by the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hezbollah by attacking Lebanese state institutions and the Lebanese national army — on which the United States and the international community have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to bolster as a counterweight to Hezbollah.
The reasons cited by Israeli officials for this abrupt shift in policy are Hezbollah’s participation in Lebanon’s newly formed national unity government and a Lebanese Cabinet statement recognizing the right to “resistance” until the disputed border area of the Shebaa Farms is returned. These compromises allowing Hezbollah to retain arms independent of the Lebanese state are unwelcome to many Lebanese — not only to Israel and others. Yet they hardly constitute a conclusive victory for the militant group, and they certainly do not justify the radical and sweeping policy shift Israel has undertaken.
Hezbollah’s participation in Lebanon’s current government is restricted to one token minister out of 30 — no different than the arrangement in previous governments. Furthermore, the Cabinet statement on the Lebanese right to “resistance” until the return of the Shebaa Farms is arguably a measured improvement over previous ones that, due to Syrian pressure, unconditionally supported Hezbollah’s military activities.
What Israel’s latest decision on Lebanon demonstrates is its lack of regard toward Lebanese moderates who have repeatedly confronted Hezbollah in the hope of building a sovereign, liberal and peaceful Lebanon.
These are the more than 1 million Lebanese who in the 2005 Cedar Revolution peacefully took to the streets to directly challenge Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. They are the same people who supported the government earlier this year when it confronted Hezbollah by deciding to dismantle the organization’s countrywide communications infrastructure and remove the pro-Hezbollah security chief of Beirut’s airport. It is worth remembering that the democratically elected government was forced to rescind its decision after being left to fend for itself, with little support from the international community, against an armed assault by Hezbollah.
These Lebanese have not vanished. They are still there, and they number in the millions. They need to be spared the wrath of collective punishment and misguided policies, which only serve to undercut them.
Israel will not defeat Hezbollah by adopting failed strategies that force Lebanese society into embracing the militant group as its only viable means of defense. By lumping all of Lebanese society into the same category with Hezbollah and threatening collective punishment, this is exactly what Israel’s latest Cabinet decision will do. It will leave the Lebanese with no choice but to grudgingly stand behind Hezbollah, just as they were forced to do last month when Israel repatriated Samir Kuntar and other Lebanese prisoners to the militant group instead of to the Lebanese state.
Israel must cease adopting policies that undermine efforts by the United States and the international community to strengthen the Lebanese state and the moderate forces within Lebanon. Whether intentional or not, that is exactly what it is doing.
Bombing Lebanese state institutions that compete with Hezbollah in providing social services and security would not serve the interest of regional peace and stability. A more sensible approach would allow the United States and the international community to strengthen the capability of those in Beirut who are striving to spread state authority at the expense of Iranian and Syrian proxies.
Firas Maksad is the Washington director of the Beirut-based Lebanon Renaissance Foundation.
Comments
The author and Edgard are, I'm sure, sincere, but I find their expectations unreasonable. Hizbullah may have but one minister, but maintains de factor veto over anything the government does - the classic "authority without responsibility" favored by revolutionaries. And Israel might be forgiven for not actively supporting the Shiite dominated Lebanese Army which not only fails to confront Hizbullah but actively supported it, as in the targeting of the Israeli ship Hanit during the war. Lebanon's army is doing essentially nothing to hinder the rearmament of Hizbullah, and did nothing to help retrieve Israel's captured soldiers. So expecting Israel to turn Kuntar over to Lebanon when it was Hizbullah holding those soldiers is a stretch. And by what stretch of imagination can Maksad envision that Israel plans to bomb state institutions providing social services? Finally, Edgard's suggestion that Israel "give back land to Lebanon" ignores both the fact that Syria hasn't yet relinquished its own claims on the land and the principle that lands lost by an aggressor - Lebanon in 1948, Syria in 1967 - are no longer the entitlement of that aggressor.
The Hizbullah is a political organization in Lebanon that participates in Lebanese politics - but it also has its own army and its own foreign policy. Mr Maksad, this is a very unusual situation, and Lebanon is therefore an abnormal state. Two years ago, Hizbullah opened fire on northern Israel - and under the cover of this attack crossed the border, killed and kidnapped our soldiers. The Lebanese government and public felt that Israel had no right to strike back after such an act of war, claiming that "it was Hizbullah, not Lebanon, that launched the attack". In short, Lebanon does not take responsibility for actions of war that originate on her own territory, and yet Mr Makdas has complaints addressed to Israel. In his eyes, Israel is responsible for the strengthening of state institutions and the political stability of Lebanon.
What Mr Makdas needs is a good lesson in self-criticism. Surely, Lebanon has to behave as a modern state in control of its own territory - one state with one government running its one foreign policy and its one army. That, obviously, means hard work. Apparently, it is easier to criticize Israel than it is to criticize one's own failures. Perhaps, it is actually a compliment to Israeli society: Mr Makdas feels that Israel is actually listening to criticism and that there is room to influence her decision-making process - which is not the case for his own society.
I do not know the law involved in this. These are some guesses. If they are wrong, I would be grateful to understand how:
The Lebanese government is considered, under international law, to be responsible for what happens on its territory, including attacks launched from its territory.
If the Lebanese government is unable to assume its responsibility, then it must go before the U.N., state that it is unable to control its territory -- a failed state -- and seek status as a protectorate. As a protectorate, another country or international coalition can occupy Lebanon on behalf of the Lebanese government, to enable it to regain control.
But Lebanese government does not have the option, I think, of simply shrugging its shoulders and saying, sorry, we cannot control what is happening. When that takes place, other countries have to say either (1) yes, you *are* responsible, or else (2) OK, I understand that you are not responsible, so you are no longer the ruling government of your country, and I must treat your country as a failed state without any authority.
Is that indeed the analysis?
Countries are responsible for the actions of their citizens.If terrorists are allowed to operate as as stateless entity then they can operate with impunity with no risk to their actions. While I feel for the Lebanese I see they do not have the backbone to rule their country. The fact that a child killer was welcomed so openly by their leaders tells me that they are an amoral population. Israel should consider all Lebanon as ground zero! A morally bankrupt society is a safe haven for killers of innocent children.
I wish Mr Maksad was correct. I used to support a free and independent Lebanon, but I cannot support it more than the Lebanese themselves want it. In reality, there is no such thing as the Lebanese nation. It is a Syrian province, which in turn is a Iranian province. The Lebanese people are happy with this. We have been waiting for "Lebanese moderates" almost as long as we have been waiting for the Messiah. Let Syria officially annex Lebanon and stabilize it. We will be the first to recognize the Syrian annexation of Lebanon. Let Samir Kuntar be the governor of the province of Lebanon. He is the epitomy of the Lebanese people
There is considerable food for thought in Firas Maksad's opinion piece entitled "All of Lebanon is Not Hezbollah". However, may I point out an FMM ("frequently made mistake")in that title? It would have been both better grammar and more accurate English to have as the headline "Not All of Lebanon is Hezbollah".
Martin
well done Mr Firas you have hit the nail by the head, Im one of the lebanese that dont approve of Hezbollah, but what choice do i have, USA promises protection, a can not see anything so far. the only way Israel can leave in peace and Lebanon is by makine the Lebanese army a very well equiped and strong army. the only one can destroy Hezbollah is not Israel. Israel tried for years and failed. its the Lebanese people and its army can destroy Hezbollah because they know how to find them. can you imagine if Israel and USA gave military support to the Lebanese army any time Hezbollah threatened, and full support (military Might and by force) not talk. Israel will have less to worry and have the protection of Lebanon. that will be a major blow to Iran and Suria. Israel chould give back land to Lebanon and ally with Lebanon. if USA and Israel dont act soon, then people against Hezbollah in Lebanon will fight a long Side Hezbollah, and exspecially the christines in Lebanon the more you hurt them the more they become dangerouse, Hezbollah is nothing compared, look back in history.