BRIDGING THE LEBANESE – ISRAELI CHASM
People say that Hezbollah is the real problem in bridging the Lebanese – Israeli chasm. That’s not true.
I believe Israel is just as responsible for the fear mongering that gives Hezbollah their supporters.
When you have Israeli military officials saying things like:
‘We’re going to take Lebanon back to the mid-ages’
‘We’re going to take Lebanon 80 years back in time’
‘We’re going to destroy Lebanon’
‘We’ll have Lebanon by the afternoon’
You’re not going to get many people on your side; neither you will scare Lebanese people. You will just make them more stubborn.
It is clear by now that Israel is not exactly enemies with the Lebanese government, army, or people; it is enemies with Hezbollah and in effect Iran.
But instead of threatening, the Israeli officials should do like their citizens are doing, and publicly state that they want peace, not to destroy Lebanon.
This is something Israel should work on. How to do “smart” public relations.
It is a fact that Lebanon can’t do anything about Hezbollah because the thugs are stronger than the Lebanese Army and they will continue to be stronger because the International Community does not allow the Lebanese Army to have modern arms; at least the significant ones. That is specifically for Israel’s sake. So how do you expect the Lebanese Army to one day defeat Hezbollah if ever? Go figure.
If Hezbollah is disarmed or decides one day to stop its ‘Holy Jihad’ against Israel, I see no reason why would Israel and Lebanon wouldn’t be in a pretty good relationship.
People support Hezbollah because they feel threatened. That or they’re dirt poor and they go to school with deep discount.
Maybe you can’t strengthen something that doesn’t exist…..
The irony is that the Lebanese and the Israelis probably have more in common than any other groups in the Middle East. Having said that, Lebanon (the most Westernized country in the Middle East) will probably be the last Arab nation to make peace with Israel.
Sad but a fact….
