Israel-Lebanon Before July 11

The media is currently being swamped with in-depth analyses of the Israeli-Hizbullah conflict. Incidentally, I have just finished reading a superb editorial that appeared in The Australian newspaper, a nation wide publication. Despite the unrelenting press coverage, I suspect that most people's exposure to the conflict is purely osmotic- a brief thirty second news report over dinner or the odd glance at a headline on the way to the sports pages. This post attempts to motivate some history and provide a context for the current crisis.

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Fact 1: Israel and Lebanon are both sovereign nations with independent governments and no contested borders.
Explanation: During the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990), Israel invaded from the south to halt PLO attacks. Israel completely withdrew from Lebanon to the green line (mutually recognised border) in 2000 and ceased all its military operations.

Fact 2: The Lebanese government is in violation of UN Resolution 1559- the disarmament of all militia.
Explanation: The 2000 Israeli withdrawal was conditional on a cessation of hostilities from its northern neighbour. The UN accordingly enacted resolution 1559 and called for the disbandment of Hizbullah- a Shiite terrorist organization sponsored by the Syrian and Iranian regimes. The Lebanese government failed to enforce the resolution and allowed the militia to continue operating. Since 2000 there have been hundreds of cross-border skirmishes between Israel and Hizbullah.

Fact 3: Lebanon is a Syrian proxy.
Explanation: There is a misconception that Syrian involvement in Lebanese politics concluded in February 2005 following the Hizbullah assassination of the anti-Syrian reformist Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. While Lebanon enjoys some level of autonomy there is significant Syrian oversight. For example, Hizbullah maintains 18 MPs within the Lebanese Parliament, two of whom form part of the coalition's cabinet. Syria broadcasts propaganda through the airwaves into Lebanon. Syria recruits for Hizbullah and supplies the terrorist group with weapons. Syria offers assylum to those found guilty of sedition. Syria intimidates and murders opponents of the Hizbullah.

Fact 4: Hizbullah is not a division of the Lebanese army.
Explanation: Support for Hizbullah within Lebanon is divided along sectarian lines. Many Arabs (Lebanese or otherwise) correctly assert that Hizbullah does not represent the collective will of the Lebanese people and undermined the Lebanese government through its unilateral attack on Israel. Indeed, the current Lebanese PM Fouad Siniora scolded Hizbullah for inciting conflict during the nation's peak tourism period.

Fact 5: Israel is not at war with Lebanon.
Explanation: While the protracted Lebanese government policy of appeasement precipitated this conflict, Israel's main objectives are to enforce UN resolution 1559 by decimating Hizbullah's base of operations and the release of its two captured soldiers. Israel has no interest in engaging Lebanese soldiers.

Fact 6: Israel's response is not disproportionate.
Explanation: Critics of Israel usually employ deliberately convoluted jargon. When Israel engages Palestinians, terrorist sympathisers describe "legitimate resistance against occupation". Presently, Israel is being accused of "exercising disproportionate force". These phrases make great slogans but are absolutely devoid of any meaning.
A nation with an undisputed border is attacked by its northern neighbour and suffers eight deaths and two abductions. The nation responds by isolating its neighbour; disrupting the enemy's ability to smuggle the hostages across the border. The response is calculated and measured with care taken to mitigate civilian casualties. Unfortunately, the enemy's base of operations are routinely concealed within dense civilian areas and are used to launch rocket attacks against the nation's civilians. What is the appropriate response? For Israel to negotiate with Hizbullah and to make concessions to the agressive terrorist militia? To rely on the Lebanese government to intervene on its behalf? To allow the incessant barage of rockets to continue hammering northern Israeli cities?

Fact 7: The July 11 attacks came one day before the UNSC was set to convene on the matter of Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Explanation: Self-evident. The Iranians successfully instigated a proxy war to to shift the focus away from their selfish desires to enslave the MidEast with nuclear weapons.

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The situation in the Middle East is unbearable to both the Lebanese and Israeli peoples. Both seek a cessation of violence and an opportunity to mourn and rebuild. Despite the heavy casualties on both sides, it's essential to recall that both Israel and Lebanon are victims of the international pariah regimes: Syria and Iran.