Rojak and Cocktail: When will the Israeli and Lebanese conflict end?

When will the Israeli and Lebanese conflict end?

Just as UNSC approved a plan for peace, Israeli troops pushed deeper into southern Lebanon on Saturday, expanding the offensive against Hezbollah hours after the U.N. Security Council approved the plan. The Lebanese Cabinet -- which includes two Hezbollah members -- is set to meet shortly to discuss the U.N. resolution and the Israeli Security Cabinet is expected to take it on at its Sunday meeting.

Israel's ambassador to the United States, Daniel Ayalon, said the Cabinet was likely to approve the plan, which calls for a cease-fire and then a massive increase in U.N. troops in southern Lebanon.

China on Saturday said it "welcomes" and "supports" the Resolution 1701 unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council on the Lebanon-Israel conflict, according to the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Office.

"China hopes concerned sides will implement the Security Council resolution in a tangible manner, resume peace and stability in the Middle East region at an early date and China will continue its efforts for that," the office said in response to journalists' questions.

The UN Security Council early Saturday morning unanimously adopted a compromise resolution on the ongoing violence in Lebanon and Israel after much hard negotiations between the concerned parties.

The one month-long conflict has caused large number of civilian casualties and led to humanitarian disaster as well as damage to regional peace and security.

China kept pushing the UN Security Council to take actions, urged concerned sides to ceasefire and turn back to the track of seeking political solution, the office said.

Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Liu Zhenmin said after the resolution was adopted that it has "formed a good foundation for future efforts to achieve long-term political solution to the Lebanon-Israel issue."

However, the Chinese envoy stressed that the adoption of the resolution is just the first step, and the parties concerned are faced with more arduous tasks.

China has sent a special envoy on the Middle East Sun Bigan to Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to ask concerned parties to ceasefire and seek a political framework for a long-term solution to the conflict to avoid further disaster.

The resolution, drafted by France and the United States, called for Israeli troops withdrawal and authorized an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted on July 12 when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight during cross-border raids.

Currently, about 10,000 Israeli troops are operating in south Lebanon and have been engaged in fierce confrontations with Hezbollah guerillas.

Israel stepped up its massive offensive in Lebanon as Hezbollah continued showering Israel with rockets.

Over 120 Israelis and about 1,000 Lebanese have been killed in the fighting.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has called earlier this week for a thorough probe of human rights violations in the conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel.

"China condemns all actions that destabilize the Mideast situation, it condemns all attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and calls on related parties to immediately halt all hostilities," Sha Zukang, Chinese ambassador to the UN Office in Geneva said on Friday while addressing a special session of the UN Human Rights council.

Israeli troops pushed deep into south Lebanon to widen its Lebanon assault early Saturday, hours after the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution calling for an end to the Israel-Hezbollah fighting.

An Israeli force reached the village of Ghandouriyeh east of the port city of Tyre, which is 11 km inside southern Lebanon on Saturday, the deepest thrust yet in Israel's ground offensive against Hezbollah, media reports quoted security sources as saying.

An Israeli army spokesman said that according to Wednesday's decision by the security cabinet, Israel would expand troops to as far as the Litani River, which runs 30 km from the border.

Meanwhile, Israeli combat jets were also in action across other parts of Lebanon, pounding northern roads leading to Syria and destroying a power plant in the major southern city of Sidon.

Security officials said Israeli warplanes fired at least three missiles which caused a fire and cut off electricity in Sidon, adding several airstrikes also hit Akkar province, some 97 km north of Beirut, and targets in the southern port city of Tyre.

The actions came shortly after the Security Council voted on a resolution calling for an end to the month-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

The resolution also authorizes sending 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to help coordinate the deployment of Lebanese troops to southern Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert accepted on late Friday the UN resolution and said he would urge the cabinet to approve it during Sunday's meeting.

But Israeli official sources said that Israeli military operations in Lebanon would continue until Sunday, when its Cabinet would meet to endorse the resolution.

(Source:Xinhua China)

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UNSC DRAFT RESOLUTION LEBANON

Friday, August 11, 2006; 4:26 PM
The Security Council, PP1. Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 520 (1982), 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006) 1680 (2006) and 1697 (2006), as well as the statements of its President on the situation in Lebanon, in particular the statements of 18 June 2000 (S/PRST/2000/21), of 19 October 2004 (S/PRST/2004/36), of 4 May 2005 (S/PRST/2005/17) of 23 January 2006 (S/PRST/2006/3) and of 30 July 2006 (S/PRST/2006/35),

(Full Text:Washington Post)

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Dangerous Vacuum in S. Lebanon

DEBKAfile Special Report

August 12, 2006, 1:47 PM (GMT+02:00)
“That’s the best we can do for you,” US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice told Ehud Olmert Friday, Aug. 11, after 15 UN Security Council members unanimously endorsed the revised US-French resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.

Olmert thanked US President George W. Bush for his work on Resolution 1701 in his first phone call to the White House since hostilities flared exactly a month ago.

Across the border in Beirut, Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora complained to US undersecretary of state David Welch that the resolution “gives Hizballah better protection than us.”

He had a point. The text finally approved, rather than addressing the most urgent security concerns of Israel and Lebanon, reflects the vetoes Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah laid down on four points:

1. The 15,000-strong peace force to be deployed in Lebanon (based on the 2,000-member UNIFIL observer force)) is denied a mandate under the UN Charter Chapter 7 to use military force for imposing a ceasefire, disarming Hizballah or creating a buffer zone in S. Lebanon.

2. No mechanism is created to enforce the embargo on arms supplies from Iran and Syria or any other foreign source.

3. In the absence of an effective UN force, no provision is made for the enforcement of UN Security Council resolution 1559 to disarm Hizballah’s militia.

4. The call for an “unconditional release” of the two Israeli soldiers, whose July 12 abduction sparked the conflict, is not accompanied by any tangible steps for its implementation.

Two further points which Nasrallah imposed on the Lebanese government are also reflected in the text. One demands the withdrawal of Israeli troops “in parallel” with the deployment of Lebanese forces for taking control of the south. Israeli soldiers are thus required to pull out before the arrival of the beefed up UN force.

The second is a 30-day deadline handed the UN Secretary Kofi Annan to come up with proposals for solving the Chebaa Farms dispute.

Israel’s military sources note that, while Israel is allowed to continue “defensive operations,” the term “cessation of hostilities” is loose enough for Hizballah to continue fighting and claim it is conducting “legitimate national Lebanese resistance” rather than offensive operations. ...(more)

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The UNSC 1701 Resolution: Why No Lebanese Should accept it

the text (See above) of the draft UNSC resolution. "Expressing its utmost concern at the continuing escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since Hizbollah's attack on Israel on 12 July 2006, which has already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on both sides, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons." This paragraph clearly lays the blame on Hizbullah for the Israeli war of aggression. And notice that Hizbullah's capture of the Israeli soldiers is sneakily blamed for "the hundreds of deaths and injuries on both sides." Both sides is always brought up when Israeli record of murder and terrorism is being covered by an international agency under US pressures, in order to absolve Israel. And notice that the identify of the victims, and the destruction of Lebanon by Israel is not identified by name: so as to imply that there was damage and destruction in Israel comparable to the damage and destruction in Lebanon. The next paragraph says: "Emphasizing the need for an end of violence, but at the same time emphasizing the need to address urgently the causes that have given rise to the current crisis, including by the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers". Again, the root cause is traced to those two soldiers, and "the root cause", in US understanding, is a camouflage to promote Israel's point of view. Notice that the release of the two soldiers is "unconditional". Why? As a free service to Israel for its great behavior and noble conduct? But then the following paragraph says: "Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners and encouraging the efforts aimed at urgently settling the issue of the Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel". Here, it is old-fashioned, classic racism. That Arab prisoners are just not as cute and not as valuable as Israeli prisoners. For Israeli prisoners, it calls for immediate release, but for Lebanese prisoners, it urges "settling the issue." Settling the issue?" Is that like US settling the Palestinian cause over the years? Or is that like that reference in UNSC 242 to the "refugee" problem? Settling the issue? The next paragraph says: "Welcoming the efforts of the Lebanese Prime Minister and the commitment of the government of Lebanon, in its seven-point plan, to extend its authority over its territory, through its own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon, welcoming also its commitment to a UN force that is supplemented and enhanced in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operation, and bearing in mind its request in this plan for an immediate withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon." Well, well, well. What was missing was the Sanyurah boo hoo hoo points here. Here, the UNSC (with Israel and US) are trying their best, and quite blatantly, to prop up a failed government. A government that has been kept in power only by the efforts of the US/Israel (patrons of Hariri Inc), and the dumb calculations of Hizbullah--and Hizbullah is consistent in dumb political calculations in their domestic alliances and decisions. And this consistent record of dumb decisions by Hizbullah leads to me believe that it may agree to this resolution. But what does this resolution mean when it categorically states that "there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon"? And how do you verify that? I know villagers in South Lebanon who celebrate weddings with RPGs and AK-47s. Will John Bolton go and search those villages? And the Swiss people are armed, with more than the Swiss army knives, and Israeli settlers are armed, so please, spare me that Weberian argument about the monopoly of violence that is being imposed on Lebanon. I mean, the US is supplying the private militia of Dahlan in Palestine, and the criminal militias of Somalia, and the warlords' militias in Afghanistan, and several militias in Iraq, and the Hariri Inc militia in Lebanon, under the guise of the Internal Security Forces. So no more Weber. So that can be tossed out of the window because it will not be verified nor implemented unless you wish to send Ahmad Fatfat to Hizbullah strongholda to ask the party members to surrender their weapons to him. Fat chance. But this sentence is worrisome: "a UN force that is supplemented and enhanced in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operation." What does that mean? That vague phraseology is quite troubling because it is as vague as the Balfour declaration when it talks about preserving the "civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine." And what is the mandate and scope of operation? If you want to expand and enhance the scope and mandate, you are in all but name creating a new force. But the dumb and not-so-dumb Lebanese ministers will not see that. They will try to sell this as UNIFIL. No, it is not. Or it does not have to be. But then I get confused when it says this: "Determined to act for this withdrawal to happen at the earliest." Wait. Wait. Hold on. Before I wake up the children and release the pigs from the barn, you need to explain this one to me, NOW. First you talk about "an immediate withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon" and then you talk about at the earliest . Are you kidding me? Which is which, o wise and mild-mannered John Bolton? Is it immediate or is it "at the earliest"? And if you leave Israel to interpret a UN resolution, there is a long trail of unimplemented trail of resolutions soaked with blood. What if Israel decides that the year 2040 is the earliest? Resolution 425 and 426 (calling on Israel to withdraw from South Lebanon) were passed in 1978, and it was in 2000 when Kofi Annan thanked Israel for being so kind for withdrawing from South Lebanon, although Israel continues to occupy Shib`a Farms, Kfar Shuba Hills, and the seven villages, not to mention Palestine and Golan Heights. And then: "Taking due note of the proposals made in the seven-point plan regarding the Shebaa farms area. What! Is this an inside joke? Did I miss something here. A UNSC resolution is referring to Israeli occupation of Lebanese lands, and it merely, merely, refers to it as "taking note"? It does not even identify the identity of the occupier for fear of hurting the feelings of the Israeli people? Taking note? I take note of the utter stupidity of this sentence, and I consider it a reason--one of many--why this resolution should be rejected on grounds of principle. And then: "Welcoming the unanimous decision by the government of Lebanon on 7 August 2006 to deploy a Lebanese armed force of 15,000 troops in South Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws behind the Blue Line and to request the assistance of additional forces from UNIFIL as needed, to facilitate the entry of the Lebanese armed forces into the region and to restate its intention to strengthen the Lebanese armed forces with material as needed to enable it to perform its duties." Well, here notice that the Israeli Army is clearly not planning on withdrawing immediately and completely, and can easily find grounds for staying on Lebanese territory. Also, when the US, here the UN but what is the difference really, talks about "strengthening" the Lebanese Army they only mean strengthening it vis-a-vis the Lebanese people, especially those--fundamentalists, leftists, Arab nationalists, and others--who wish to resist Israeli occupation of their country, and not vis-a-vis Israel. Srenghthening does not entail an air defense system which is the most needed weapon of defense for the country, unless you plan to rely on the elite fighting force of the Lebanese Army which surrendered their weapons today to the Israeli occupation force in Marji`yun, and apologized to the Israeli occupiers for not vacating their barracks earlier to make room for an exhausted and frightened occupation army. This one is Orwellian: "Determining that the situation in Lebanon constitutes a threat to international peace and security." Did the august body not notice that the Israeli war of aggression on Lebanon has been posing a threat to international peace and security until TODAY? It has been over a month. But thanks for noticing. Quite callous, I say. Notice this paragraph: Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hizbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations." They mean to draw a distinction between Hizbullah attacks, which are called "attacks", and yet Israeli attacks are "offensive military operations". Does that mean that the Israeli massacres in Siddiqin, Qa`, Tyre, Marwahin, Srifa, Shiyyah, Qana, and others were merely "military operations"? We need to know to know what to tell the survivors. And when it prohibits Israeli "offensive operations" it clearly permits what Israel will consider "defensive" operations, and all Israeli wars of aggression and occupation have been termed as "defensive" by Israel, as Tariq Mitri pointed out in his speech before the council. And then: "Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty, so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon." But Hizbulalh's armed presence has hitherto enjoyed the consent of the Lebanese government and the official statement of the Lebanese government pays tribute to "resistance" and to the legitimacy of all means to liberate occupied Lebanese lands? What about that, o Kofi? The presence of UNSC 1559 is crucial here: it is the crux of the matter, and it shows once again that the first foundation of the international conspiracy against Lebanon was layed by Rafiq Hariri when his interests met with the interests of Israel/US, in pushing for UNSC 1559. Hariri thought that with UNSC he would please US/Israel and would rule as king in Lebanon. Well, that was not meant to be, I am afraid. It is all about UNSC 1559. Then: "Reiterates its strong support for full respect for the Blue Line. How do you show your respect for a line? Do you bring it flowers? Do you leave cookies and milk on the line every day? Please enlighten me because I never respected "lines" before. And are you implying here that Israel has a great record of respecting lines, anywhere? And then: "Affirms that all parties are responsible for ensuring that no action is taken contrary to paragraph 1 that might adversely affect the search for a long-term solution, humanitarian access to civilian populations, including safe passage for humanitarian convoys, or the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons, and calls on all parties to comply with this responsibility and to cooperate with the Security Council." Notice that it says "all parties" when it should have said Israel, because it is Israel that has been attacking humanitarian convoys in Lebanon. But this resolution fails to even once hold Israel responsible for any of its crimes in Lebanon. This is yet another reason why it should be rejected, categorically. Here: "security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11, deployed in this area." This is May 17 Agreement all over again. The Lebanese Army in South Lebanon is being turned into a South Lebanon Army. The only duty of the Lebanese Army becomes to protect Israel and its occupation. This "full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), that require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision of July 27, 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese state" is a clear violation of Lebanese sovereignty. Not that it exists of course, but the Lebanonese advocates shout about it. This is an internal Lebanese matter, and the UN has no business in even referring to the Ta'if Accords which dealt with Lebanese internal reforms. Imagine if the UNSC were to issue an opinion on the US constitution. And don't you like the qualification in the sentence "no foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its government." Is this like the consent that the "Iraqi government" gives to the US occupation in Iraq? Explain that, please. Here, there is one demand from Lebanon: "provision to the United Nations of all remaining maps of land mines in Lebanon in Israel's possession." But there is no timetable. When? A year? A decade? When? Why not specify a deadline? This is another tricky one that smells of the May 17 Agreement: "Invites the Secretary General to support efforts to secure as soon as possible agreements in principle from the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel to the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set forth in paragraph 8, and expresses its intention to be actively involved." What is being hinted here? But certainly the end here is quite obscene: "Stresses the importance of, and the need to achieve, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on all its relevant resolutions including its resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973." This is basically the American peace process that has brought you all the peace and prosperity that the people of the region are now enjoying. Go back to sleep.
PS Oh, I forgot to say that this resolution, when it comes to the arrangements in South Lebanon, is meaningless. When it talks about preventing Hizbullah from returning to South Lebanon, how do you do that? The resolution talks about the return of all refugees. So Hizbullah fighters are part of the Southern Lebanese refugees. They will return. But will they return with their weapons? Well, it will not be difficult to smuggle them back in. And more bunkers will be built, and more recruitment will take place. If anything, I think that, like the Palestinian Resistance after the Karamah Battle, Hizbullah will receive more recruits than it can accommodate. Stay tuned. The Arab-Israeli conflict continues.
(Source:angryarab.blogspot)

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When will the Israeli and Lebanese conflict end?
Read the opinion published in the People's Daily online.