UNIFIL and the Lebanonization of Lebanon
Maybe Hizbullah will be disarmed by the Lebanese National Army or maybe it will dissolve and integrate itself into the Army. As nobody can solve this but the people of Lebanon themselves, I see no need for a strong and trigger-happy UNIFIL
Nothing in that decision, by itself an example of stylistic diplomacy, is clear-cut. Its exact wording, especially the phrases used to describe the role and the authority of the 15000-strong UNIFIL, are a brilliant exercise in fuzzy logic, flying high above the understanding of a human being.
In spite of being such a mess, the 1701 can still fulfill a positive role in promoting a de facto peace between Lebanon and Israel. How? Not by providing a detailed road map for the Babylon-like international force (who is afraid of the military might of Bangladesh?) but by not providing it.
There is, to my view, one and only one way to stop the next round of war on the Lebanese-Israeli border: To make the Army of Lebanon responsible for the security of all Lebanon and to instruct UNIFIL to give it a helping hand.
Lebanon to the Lebanese
During the past generations, Southern Lebanon was only geographically part of the Republic of Lebanon. Politically and military it was, respectively, part of Palestine, of Israel, of Syria and lately of Iran. Foreign occupation was the rule, not the exception.
But now, for the first time since late 1970s, the Government of Lebanon is ready to bring freedom to the whole of its country and to extend its full military control beyond the Litani River up to the Blue Line, the UN-recognized border with Israel.
The war between Israel and Hizbullah ended in a tie, with one clear winner: Lebanese Nationalism. An unprecedented wave of patriotic feelings is sweeping Lebanon, uniting this multi-religion society into one Lebanese Nation. One should add: a democratic Lebanese Nation.
No war between Israel and Lebanon
The Lebanese Army may be weak, inexperienced and not ready for combat but it is the strongest manifestation of this newly discovered sovereignty of the Republic of Lebanon. Its solders receive a huge amount of spontaneous support and love from the residents of the South. Here come the Liberators, waiving the national flag of Lebanon: white, red and cedar-tree.
This is great. Great for Lebanon, great for people of South Lebanon, great for people of North Israel.
Israel has no quarrel with Lebanon and vice versa. The small and rather surrealistic conflict on Shebaa Farms (Israel claims they belong to Syria, Syria claims they belong to Lebanon), can be solved instantly, by direct negotiations or by the UN or by the International Court of Justice. No problem here, really.
The Blue Line border between those two countries can indeed be a very quiet and peaceful place, provided the national army of Lebanon will just do what it is supposed to do in an independent state: Establish its full military authority in the South of Lebanon as well as in the North.
Nobody expressed it better than the Government of Lebanon in its historic statement: "There will be no authority or weapons other than those of the State of Lebanon in the 20km area south of the Litani River".
Not a 'Peace Keeping Force'
Maybe Hizbullah will be disarmed by the Lebanese National Army or maybe it will dissolve and integrate itself into the Army. It is hard to predict, but those are internal problems of the Lebanese community. As nobody can solve them but the people of Lebanon themselves, I see no need for a strong and trigger-happy UNIFIL.
It may be rather small, compact and instructive; it will never be and shouldn't be a "Peace Keeping Force." The State of Israel is not threatening Lebanon and the State of Lebanon is not threatening Israel. If there is any real role for the new UNIFIL, one can summarize it in a simple sentence: To help, speed and guarantee the Lebanonization of South Lebanon.
To return the whole of Lebanon to the people of Lebanon – that is the true message of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. All the rest is superficial.
Join the debate: Sever Plocker answers readers' qustions on Washington Post's PostGlobal
