When International Diplomacy Fails

By Ilana Freedman

Thursday, July 20, 2006

When the United Nations passed Resolution 1559 in September 2004, there was hope that a new Lebanon could grow out the ruins of a country that had been destroyed by the fallout from internecine warfare and a massive Syrian land grab.

Two years later, the failure of 1559 has resulted in the eruption of major hostilities on the Israel-Lebanese border and the near-collapse of the Lebanese government.

UN Resolution 1559 called for "all remaining foreign forces to withdraw from, the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, [and] the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory."

None of this happened. Instead of assuming authority over its sovereign territory, the Lebanese government abandoned control of southern Lebanon, leaving it to Hezbollah, which had already begun concentrating troops along the border and stockpiling massive quantities of heavy offensive weapons.

After Israel left the border area in Lebanon in 2000, in which they had created a buffer zone to protect their northern communities, Hezbollah moved right up to the razor wire fence that separates Israel and Lebanon and planted its flags all along the border. At one spot, they constructed a large billboard less than fifty feet from an IDF border patrol base. On the billboard was a large photograph of a grinning Hezbollah terrorist holding up the severed head of an Israeli soldier with a warning to the Israeli government that Hezbollah still holds Israeli soldiers. It was a display of Hezbollah's world vision that revealed more about their mentality and ruthlessness than Katyusha rockets ever could.

Today, Israel is doing what the United Nations and the government of Lebanon failed to do. In their powerful offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, they are sacrificing much to clean out a nest of vipers who pose a threat to the entire world (see yesterday's commentary). Israel has no choice but to secure its borders and protect its sovereignty, no less than we would do – and may be called upon to do if Israel should fail.

Commentary is written by Ilana Freedman, CEO of Gerard Group and Senior Intelligence Analyst. Comments and questions should be addressed to ilana@gerardgroup.com

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