While it’s true that Israel’s decapitation of Hezbollah presents Lebanon with a once in a generation opportunity to regain its sovereignty, the fractured nature of the various powerful groups, each historically looking to what advantages their in-group at the expense of the larger community needs to be overcome.
In a word, Lebanon can only be saved if its people truly see themselves as Lebanese first and not primarily through a sectarian lens. Whether they can overcome that essential problem remains to be seen.
That said, those who seek to restore Lebanon’s independence need allies and the most obvious would be, sad to say, France. Yet President Macron’s approach since the massive port explosion several years back has been feckless. Even now, the demands for a ceasefire first, discussions without a set of demands before a ceasefire is agreed to only gives space for a battered Hezbollah to regroup and maintain its grip.
More is required and that, in turn, will require at least a diplomatic confrontation by the Western powers with Iran to cut off Hezbollah. But that won’t happen until the “war against the Jews as Islam’s principal enemy” is relegated to the dustbin of history and a more pragmatic approach replaced it.
Lebanon could indicate an interest in ending the state of war it declared against Israel in 1948. It has no legitimate quarrel with the Jewish state, and nothing prevents it from accepting the Blue Line as the international border. It never cared for the Palestinians as can be seen by its harsh legal treatment bordering on apartheid. That should be a separate matter, along the lines of how Egypt and Jordan acted in their peace negotiations.
The future of Lebanon lies, therefore, in expelling outside influences, peace with Israel and the benefits of entry into the Abraham Accords.
Those opposed to this vision will continue to use the Palestinians - for whom they too care nothing as can be seen, for instance, with Hamas’ revolting callousness in deliberately sacrificing its own people. The Palestinians deserve better than being pawns in larger Islamic games. But for that to happen, they like the Lebanese must take the initiative and carve out a better future for them and their children.
Is it too much to ask that they abandon their genocidal fantasies against their Jewish neighbors? The choice is theirs … and has always been. We can only wait to see what the future holds, more of the same or something better.
While it’s true that Israel’s decapitation of Hezbollah presents Lebanon with a once in a generation opportunity to regain its sovereignty, the fractured nature of the various powerful groups, each historically looking to what advantages their in-group at the expense of the larger community needs to be overcome.
In a word, Lebanon can only be saved if its people truly see themselves as Lebanese first and not primarily through a sectarian lens. Whether they can overcome that essential problem remains to be seen.
That said, those who seek to restore Lebanon’s independence need allies and the most obvious would be, sad to say, France. Yet President Macron’s approach since the massive port explosion several years back has been feckless. Even now, the demands for a ceasefire first, discussions without a set of demands before a ceasefire is agreed to only gives space for a battered Hezbollah to regroup and maintain its grip.
More is required and that, in turn, will require at least a diplomatic confrontation by the Western powers with Iran to cut off Hezbollah. But that won’t happen until the “war against the Jews as Islam’s principal enemy” is relegated to the dustbin of history and a more pragmatic approach replaced it.
Lebanon could indicate an interest in ending the state of war it declared against Israel in 1948. It has no legitimate quarrel with the Jewish state, and nothing prevents it from accepting the Blue Line as the international border. It never cared for the Palestinians as can be seen by its harsh legal treatment bordering on apartheid. That should be a separate matter, along the lines of how Egypt and Jordan acted in their peace negotiations.
The future of Lebanon lies, therefore, in expelling outside influences, peace with Israel and the benefits of entry into the Abraham Accords.
Those opposed to this vision will continue to use the Palestinians - for whom they too care nothing as can be seen, for instance, with Hamas’ revolting callousness in deliberately sacrificing its own people. The Palestinians deserve better than being pawns in larger Islamic games. But for that to happen, they like the Lebanese must take the initiative and carve out a better future for them and their children.
Is it too much to ask that they abandon their genocidal fantasies against their Jewish neighbors? The choice is theirs … and has always been. We can only wait to see what the future holds, more of the same or something better.
Cheering from the sidelines Faisal. I felt every word of this post in my soul. All the very best.